Rare Sterling Silver Cutlery Set UK – Leslie Gordon Durbin 42-Piece Hallmarked Silver Canteen, London 1954
If you are looking for a rare sterling silver cutlery set in the UK, this exceptional 42-piece hallmarked silver canteen by Leslie Gordon Durbin is a remarkable find. Handmade in London in 1954, this important British silver cutlery set combines rarity, craftsmanship, collectability, and practical elegance in a way that few surviving services can match.
This is a genuine hallmarked sterling silver cutlery set, made by Leslie Gordon Durbin, one of the most respected post-war British silversmiths. Durbin was apprenticed to the celebrated Omar Ramsden and became known for creating hand-wrought silver of outstanding quality. His work is now highly regarded by collectors of British hallmarked silver, and complete canteens by this maker are extremely difficult to find. In fact, this is the first complete silver cutlery canteen we have seen with Durbin’s LGD maker’s mark, making it particularly desirable for serious buyers and collectors.
This 42-piece silver canteen of cutlery includes six complete place settings, with 6 soup spoons, 6 dessert forks, 6 table knives, 6 dessert spoons, 6 table or dinner forks, 6 teaspoons, and 6 dessert knives. The knives have silver handles with stainless steel blades, while the remaining pieces are solid sterling silver. The total silver weight is an impressive 1230 grams, or 39.6 troy ounces, plus the 12 silver-handled knives. Each piece is fully hallmarked, with the main service carrying London 1954 silver hallmarks and the teaspoons hallmarked 1955.
For buyers searching online for hallmarked silver cutlery UK, sterling silver flatware set, London silver cutlery 1954, or Leslie Gordon Durbin silver, this set stands out for both rarity and quality. The pattern is beautifully hand-crafted, with elegant tapering handles and fine engraved trim. Its design reflects the clean lines of post-war silver, blending subtle Art Deco influence with the understated style of the 1950s. The three-pronged forks and rat-tail spoons add further distinction and show the influence of early English silver design.
One of the strongest selling points of this collectable sterling silver canteen is that it is entirely handmade. By the 1950s, machine-made silverware had become increasingly common, and silver was heavily taxed, meaning that luxury handmade silver cutlery sets like this were produced in limited numbers. That makes complete services by important makers especially rare in today’s market.
This set has been fully restored by us to near-new condition, making it ready for immediate use or display. It is supplied in four fitted felt cutlery rolls, with each piece stored in its own individual slot. This gives the set both excellent protection and an elegant, traditional presentation.
Whether you are searching for a rare silver canteen of cutlery, a sterling silver cutlery set for 6, or an important example of 20th-century British silver, this Leslie Gordon Durbin service is a superb choice. Beautifully made, fully hallmarked, and exceptionally rare, it is a fine heirloom-quality silver cutlery set that brings together craftsmanship, history, and lasting value. Here is a link to this set – https://www.edinburghsilver.co/silver-cutlery/silver-cutlery-1954/
