Turning to secular plate, it must first be mentioned that few examples of the work of the seventeenth century remain, a most diligent search having resulted in the unearthing of some twenty pieces only. The oldest of these is probably the wine cup exhibited by Mr. T. Taylor, made by John Wilkinson about the same time as the Ryton cup which has been previously noted. Mr. W. Orde shows a tankard by the same maker of about the same date, or possibly a little later. The Drapers’ Company of Durham sends an interesting cup made by John Dowthwayte about 1671, and also a tankard by Eli Bilton, c. 1696.

The Cordwainers’ Company of Newcastle exhibits a fine tankard by William Ramsey, c. 1686, and another of somewhat later date is sent by Mr. N. Cookson. Interesting specimens are contributed by the Tailors’, Tanners’, and Skinners’ Guilds of Carlisle. Towards the end of the century many small porringers seem to have been made, and good specimens with the ordinary fluted ornamentation of that period are sent by Mr. Thomas Gow, Miss Reed, and Major Widdrington.

Of Britannia standard there are fifteen examples, the most noteworthy of which is the magnificent Monteith bowl belonging to the corporation of Morpeth, made by Richard Hobbs in 1712. The cordwainers of Newcastle show a pair of tankards of the same year by Jonathan French, and the Tailors’ Guild of Carlisle a very good small tumbler by John Younghusband, 1707; a sugar castor of 1719 by James Kirkup is lent by Mr. J. Carr-Ellison. Mention must also be made of a very fine bowl sent by Mr. T. T. Dale which was made in 1719 by Robert Makepeace, a cover having been added in 1802 by John Langlands, junr. 

From 1721 a large number of pieces will be found contributed by the exhibitors already mentioned, and many others. Mr. L. W. Adamson shows a very good two-handled cup and cover by Thomas Partis, date 1721. This is the earliest example of a well- known form of cup which was largely made in Newcastle ; other good specimens are lent by Mr. Askew-Robertson and Mr. Turner Farley, these were made by John Langlands in 1757. A very interesting exhibit is the punch ladle, date 1728, lent by Mr. C. J. Spence ; it was formerly the property of the Corporation of Newcastle and was purchased at the Mansion House sale in 1837. Three sauce boats from the same sale are shown by Mrs. Potter and Mrs. De Mey. It is deeply to be deplored that the art treasures of the Corporation were thus scattered, as the few pieces reserved and still in their possession are very fine, but not a single specimen of Newcastle plate is to be found among them.

A pair of candlesticks lent by Miss Allgood, which are two of a set of four in her possession, are the only ones that have been discovered after an exhaustive search; they bear no date letter but are stamped with the mark of John Langlands. It is probable that they were manufactured in Sheffield, and assayed in Newcastle on behalf of the member of the guild, whose mark they bear. A peculiar feature is the absence of cream jugs of the ordinary shape, and it is probable that the small sauce boats, of which there are several examples, were also used for cream. A very large number of tea and coffee pots appear to have been made in Newcastle, the designs are generally graceful and the work in many cases excellent. 

Taking it altogether, the work of the Newcastle silversmiths is of a very good description, and although few really fine pieces of plate are found the general standard is high.