The Veronica Macdonald Silver Collection

Collections and Collectors

The Veronica Macdonald Silver Collection

In August 2012, the Museum became the permanent home of an important collection of English silver by the celebrated London master silversmith Paul Storr (1771-1844). The collection may be familiar to Museum visitors since it has been on long-term loan since 1999.

Veronica and Colin Macdonald lent this important collection of silver, which was part of an unexpected inheritance received by Veronica and her sister, Valerie Story. The Macdonalds realized that the collection should be seen and appreciated by a wider audience and the Museum's English Silver Collection gallery was the ideal situation. The 15 works have had pride of place in the Silver galleries ever since.

Paul Storr is regarded as one of the greatest English gold- and silversmiths working in the Neoclassical style during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. A master craftsman, designer, and sculptor, Storr's production ranged from simple tableware to magnificent sculptural presentation pieces made for royalty. The Macdonald gift includes a range of richly ornamented tableware from massive platters and tureens to a Rococo-style vermeil tea set and tray.

Veronica, or Ronnie as she was known to friends, and Colin had always talked about making the Museum the permanent home for the collection, but never found the right moment until August 2012. In the last month of her life--Colin died in 2003--Ronnie gave the 15-piece Paul Storr collection to the Museum. It is the most important gift of historic English silver to come to the Museum since the Nunn, Cabell, and Hayes gifts that form the core of the Museum's holdings.

The Macdonald Silver Collection

Veronica and Colin Macdonald

Macdonald Silver