Vitreous Enamel

We love good quality hand painted vitreous enamel at Greene & Greene Antiques and we have just bought some interesting pieces over the weekend.

First I want to start with a quick explanation of what vitreous enamel exactly is. Vitreous enamel is a material made by fusing powdered glass by firing. The powder melts, flows and then hardens to a smooth durable vitreous coating. The word comes from Latin, meaning "glassy".

To continue, see the image on the left with a selection of our new silver and enamel pieces:
1. A pair of 1950s gilt metal and hand painted vitreous enamel cufflinks with the colour and insignia of the Royal Engineers (left);
2. A sterling silver and vitreous enamel Royal Australian Air Force sweetheart brooch, c.1940 (top left);
3. A hallmarked sterling silver napkin ring with vitreous enamel Birmingham 1930 (top mid);
4. A hallmarked sterling silver napkin ring with vitreous enamel Glasgow 1953 (top right);
​5. A hallmarked sterling silver vesta case with a vitreous enamel shield of St John's College Oxford University by Blanckenesee & Sons Birmingham 1902 (bottom right).

After some further research into the sterling silver napkin ring in the middle of the image above, we found that it was in fact used as a presentation prize for sailing. The front enamelled with a red and black burgee with gold anchor, represents the Mudhook Yacht Club. Not pictured above but on the reverse it has a contemporary engraved inscription which reads 'MUDHOOK REGATTA 1930 STEERSMAN'S PRIZE WON BY 'HERMES'', by J W Benson, Birmingham 1930. Mudhook Yacht Club was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest clubs in sailing history. It is based in north shore of the River Clyde in Scotland and is a fairly unique club being limited to only forty members. According to the club website: "It was (the club) particularly noted for only giving two prize in any race but both prizes were of a very high quality".

It's one of the best parts of our job to locate and find these unique pieces with these unwritten stories. Explore our stock online (we try to keep it up to date) or come and visit us in store here at
​Greene & Greene Antiques to view an intriguing collection of silver and vitreous enamel pieces.