JA Campbell Silversmiths makes 3 different styles of tea strainers

This handmade hallmarked sterling silver tea strainer is part of a matching tea and coffee set from the 'Appetite' collection of JA Campbell Silversmiths. An English tea set, handmade in our Brentwood workshop by Master Silversmith John Campbell and his team of craftsmen. The silver strainer is of contemporary design, beautifully balanced and has a silver handle which is a delight to hold.

Drinking tea, afternoon tea, traditional English occasions which you can turn into a celebration by using English sterling silver.

If you take your tea seriously, this silver tea strainer is essential. Add a silver teapot, silver sugar basin, a silver milk jug, a silver cake stand for the freshly made scones, a silver preserve bowl for the homemade strawberry jam and a sterling silver butter dish. Use the large silver salver from the JA Campbell 'Appetite' collection and your afternoon tea table will nearly be complete.

Also part of the same collection are a silver tea caddy and caddy spoon, and to serve the tea, using loose leaves of course, this tea strainer. All you need now are your guests!

An English handmade silver tea set will delight you and be a wonderful traditional set to pass from generation to generation. Queen Victoria is said to have preferred her tea from a silver pot, so the tradition is a royal one!

The design features and quality in every item made by craftsmen at JA Campbell are unique. For those interested in how the product is made, a brief description is given below. It is made from 4 main components; the main body, the drip cup body, the cast handle and the support billet. The main, perforated, strainer blank is spun onto a preformed brass spinning chuck using the metal spinning method. This blank has been perforated with a decorative pattern of holes using a photo etch method. This component now has its top edge rolled around on itself to form a hollow wire which will strengthen and support. Next the cast handle is soldered on, using easy silver solder, followed by the billet exactly opposite. The completed strainer body is now pickled in dilute sulphuric acid to remove oxides and flux residues. Next, the drip cup is spun from a round blank using the same method as previously described.

The strainer is now punched with the maker's mark, JAC in a triangle. These are the initials and registered design at the Assay offices for John Campbell. It is now sent to the London Assay Office where a small sample is scraped off each and every part and tested (assayed).Provided the results from the laboratory prove more than 92.5% pure silver, the remaining hallmarks are applied. This is probably one of the earliest forms of consumer protection which has survived to the present day and dates back to the 1400s. For information, the term 'up to scratch' is an ancient, precious metal term.

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. This sterling silver tea strainer is a pleasure to use today and a great investment to be handed down to future generations.