These sterling silver grape scissors are handmade in our Brentwood workshop.  They have a lily design on the handle which is quite a simple, streamlined pattern, making them comfortable to use. Many silver grape scissors can be very ornate in design and may have cast vine and grape motifs making them bulky and difficult to handle. This design is part of the 'Classic' collection from JA Campbell.

For those people interested in how we make these scissors, a brief description follows: they are 'lost wax' cast in 5 components, left and right blades, left and right handles and a rivet covering disc.

Lost wax explained: firstly, master patterns are made by hand. This is a highly skilled and time-consuming task. Vulcanised rubber moulds are made of all the patterns. Molten wax is injected into each mould to produce wax copies of the master. These wax copies are then placed together onto a central feeder stem and an open-ended steel tube called a 'flask' placed over them. This is filled with liquid plaster of Paris and once it has set, it is heated to melt out the wax. It is then heated even further to about 1200 degrees C, until the last remaining traces of wax have been burnt completely. The flask is then allowed to cool down to about 400 degrees C and a carefully measured amount of silver 'spun' in using a centrifuge. The filled flask is cooled to about 200 degrees C and plunged into water causing the plaster to disintegrate and allow the castings to fall out. The castings are then 'pickled' to remove the plaster and oxide and then cut free from the feeder stem.

At this stage, the left hand handle is soldered to its relevant blade and the right handle likewise. They are then 'pickled' to remove traces of flux etc. The assemblies are then filed and 'linished' before passing to the polishing shop for a pre-polish. Back to the silversmith, the left and right blade assemblies are riveted together with wax in the joint to smooth the scissor action and the covering disc soldered in place to hide the rivet.

At this stage the article is punched with the maker's mark, JAC in a triangle, the full initials of John Campbell. It is then taken to the London Assay Office to be scraped and tested. Once a positive result has been received from the laboratory confirming that the article has been made with metal at least 92.5% pure silver, the remaining hallmarks are punched into the surface. This independent hallmarking process began in the 1400s and is one of the world's oldest and most secure forms of consumer protection.

Upon arrival back at our workshop, the hallmarks are inspected and 'set', that is, to remove the dents put in by the punching process. Following this the JA Campbell name punch is applied and the polishing process begins. First using coarse compound, moving up to medium and lastly a fine compound until the high polish associated with silver is achieved. Four grades are used and around 15 different operations employed.

The scissors are then ultrasonically cleaned, dried and packed into fitted presentation boxes for stock or dispatch.

It is thought that the first grape scissors were brought to Britain by ambassadors in the 1780s. Dining etiquette was an important part of Victorian polite society. The Manners and Tone of Good Society advised that it is important to recognize specialist utensils, for example, grape scissors. These are used during the dessert course of a meal and after the grapes have been correctly cut using the scissors, it is acceptable for guests to use their fingers. When eating grapes a half closed hand should be placed to the lips and pips should be allowed to fall into fingers and quickly placed on the side of the plate.

With the changing climate, grapes are being grown further and further north in Britain so what could be nicer than to have your own grape vine and wander down the garden before dinner and to pick a bunch of home grown grapes? Using a pair of these silver grape scissors will be the finishing touch to a wonderful occasion which will delight your guests. An extra touch could be to serve them in the JA Campbell, armada style silver dish

An unusual silver present that would suit many occasions from a special birthday to an anniversary or perhaps a retirement present (along with a grape vine!)

Start your collection of silver from JA Campbell, one of the few silversmiths still using traditional handcraft skills in their workshop in Brentwood, England. In the unlikely event of damage, JA Campbell provide a full repair service. You can be assured that all our products are made up to a standard, not down to a price. Nothing leaves the Brentwood workshop until Master Silversmith John Campbell is completely satisfied.