Omar Ramsden Silver

Omar Ramsden was one of the most successful and highly-acclaimed silversmiths of his generation. Ramsden was renowned for producing exquisite sterling silver objects in a manner that mixed various arts and crafts traditions.

Omar Ramsden was born in Sheffield, England, which was also the birthplace of silver plating and regarded as a mecca of silversmithing. After graduating from the Sheffield school of art in 1897, Ramsden, along with his business partner Alwyn Carr, moved to Chelsea in West London to set up a shop. In addition to producing high quality domestic wares, Ramsden and Carr also received a significant number of commissions from churches, governmental bodies, and universities.

The business prospered until WWI, when Carr left to serve in the British Army reserve. Subsequently, Omar Ramsden opened up a workshop which rapidly expanded, employing a number of highly-skilled artisans tasked with bringing Ramsden’s designs to life.

Quick Facts

• In 1921, Omar Ramsden was inducted as a member of the Royal Miniature Society where he exhibited more than 90 works
• In 2014, Christie’s sold a Ramsden silver-gilt ship miniature, "The Good Ship of St. Andrew," for more than $500,000, far exceeding its $100,000-$150,000 estimate
• After Ramsden’s split with Carr, he engraved the majority of his sterling silver objects with the Latin phrase "OMAR RAMSDEN ME FECIT," which means "Omar Ramsden made me"