This guide to antique china and silver is arranged chronologically, starting in the 16th century and concluding in the 1950s. There is a detailed introduction defining the principal elements of tableware which takes a broad view of the social history of the table, illustrated with paintings and engravings. Having given the reader guidance to identification and dating within this overview, the introduction concludes with a timeline of historical, stylistic and social change, in the production of china and silver. In its detailed study and analysis of antique china and silver, the book reveals the development of form and function and their relationship to style, and should also make familiar the objects that, universally, have the greatest appeal for collectors. The annotated illustrations clarify the stylistic interdependence of the great china factories and silversmiths, underlining the point that nothing can be seen in isolation, and making sure that all the necessary historical and stylistic links are easily made. The pictorial approach makes the book accessible for the beginner and useful working guide for the experienced antique enthusiast. Tim Forrest is the author of The 'Which?' Guide to Buying Antiques and The Little, Brown Illustrated Encyclopedia of Antiques.