“Queen Anne” has for many years been famous around the world for its leading brand of silver plated table and giftware. The business has links to a company that was first established in the Jewellery Quarter of Birmingham in 1919, and has therefore been influenced by the expertise and craftsmanship of the fine English Silversmiths operating there. Their skills and designs which have been passed down through generations, provide the basis for many of our traditional manufactured products. Manufacturing has been taking place on the present factory site in Wednesbury for over 55 years, and many of its experienced workforce has in excess of 35 years service. We continue to produce fine quality silver plate at an affordable price and combined with our special tarnish resistant coating the finished article is easy to look after, as it never needs polishing. Queen Anne is proud to be the only major silver plating company left in the U.K. that can  say its products are still “Made in England”

With over 100 years of existence, Herdmar is one of the biggest producers of table cutlery in the world, with recognized merits everywhere, bringing to the market a distinct philosophy of democratic design which aims to present cutlery pieces as fashion items for the table. Present in 80 countries, with the promise of “dressing the tables”, all the productive process goes on in Caldas das Taipas, Guimarães (north of Portugal), where the fourth generation of the Marques family is now at the helm of the direction, standing up for excellence, creativity and innovation on this traditional business in the region. With a medium daily production of 30.000 pieces, and a team of around 120 collaborators, Herdmar undertakes to ensure the continuity of the values that led the company to success along their already long-life history.

It's what distinguishes us. Each piece means a story, a moment or a personality, and it's the result of an investment made along its development, allowing each of the lines to arise smoothly in a logical way. The diversity of finishes that we provide, give each item a personal charisma, suitable for specific occasions, transforming the table into a real catwalk.

Founded in 1824, the Vista Alegre Porcelain Factory was the first industrial unit dedicated to producing porcelain in Portugal. The persistence of its founder, José Ferreira Pinto Basto, was determining to the launching and success of this daring enterprise. A landowner, audacious merchant and distinguished figure in Portuguese society at the time, José Ferreira Pinto Basto wisely adopted the liberal ideas of the 19th century, having become “the first example of free initiative” in Portugal. The factory started by producing glassware and soapstone pottery, since the composition of porcelain clay was still unknown. The factory produced high-quality glassware, particularly pieces with relief decorations, engraved patterns and ornate borders, as well as delicately engraved medallions. In 1880, Vista Alegre ceased its glassware production to focus exclusively on porcelain. In order to overcome difficulties related to porcelain production, Augusto Ferreira Pinto Basto, the founder’s son, visited the Sèvres Porcelain Factory in France, where he studied the composition of porcelain clay and acquired knowledge that would be crucial to the discovery of large kaolin deposits to the North of Ílhavo, in 1832. Regular porcelain production between 1832 and 1840 led to significant improvements in the quality of porcelain and glass. Production also benefited from technological progress. Additionally, the hiring of international master craftsmen with extensive experience in ceramics allowed the training of local artisans, who became highly qualified in porcelain production. In 1851, Vista Alegre participated in the Universal Exhibition at Crystal Palace, in London. In 1867, the company achieved international recognition at the Paris Universal Exhibition. In 1852, a complete dinner set was produced for the Royal House, following a visit by King Fernando II to the Vista Alegre Factory. Greater industrial development was witnessed in the following years. Styles became simpler, acquiring lyrical and romantic undertones, and new mechanical decoration techniques were introduced. However, the turn of the century marked the start of a business downturn. The social crisis and political unrest felt over the entire country led to serious difficulties for the company, which were further aggravated by poor commercial management and a lack of defined artistic trends. These difficulties would persist until the beginning of the 20th century. The company would enter a recovery period with the appointment of João Theodoro Ferreira Pinto Basto as Deputy Director, in 1924. Industrial development and business growth were accompanied by an artistic revival. Modern styles, such as Art Deco and Functionalism, revealed the company’s ability to adapt to the social and aesthetic changes that characterised the beginning of the 20th century.

ABOUT US

Brand Values and Mission

By combining traditional and contemporary art, our mission is to give a new contour to glassware art, one that can inspire upcoming designers into creating unique and timeless objects. Nature and music are the main inspiration of our designs. Thus, we can state that our mission is to bring them together in a harmonious manner through our glassware. Our story Nature and music offer the inspiration behind the Gabriela Seres glass objects. Luxe and contemporary, the handcrafted glassware made in the Gabriela Seres workshop shows how delicate and smooth her creation process is. Combining the mastery of the craftsmen with the elegant designs of Gabriela Seres, it almost feels like a harmonious waltz between the passion for glass and the prowess of the artisan. The story goes back to 1976, when young college graduate Gabriela Seres whimsically met Peter Stefanescu in a glass factory. Peter was a master glassblower trained in classical European hand glass blowing techniques. The equilibrium created by the experienced craftsman and the glass-passionate young woman set the foundation for their very own independent art glass enterprise in 1992. With help from family members and joint savings, they rented an old house in Bucharest that became their magical glass working studio. Having only three craftsmen working along them, the process was not without struggle. Even so, the years passed and they kept working towards their dream. Delighted customers recommended them by word-of-mouth. In a short time, the old rented house in Bucharest became a great and important busy factory. It didn’t take long until they gained pan-European recognition. Meanwhile, as the glass studio took shape and then transformed into the prestigious factory that it is today, Gabriela Seres, the glass technocrat, worked closely with Italian and French designers. She then discovered her natural flair for designing glass objects d’art. The symphonic process continued her father’s passion for design and it inspired her to create the brand that is Gabriela Seres designs. Each and every one of the Gabriela Seres pieces are meticulously created by master craftsmen in clear and noble glass, in the brand’s top-notch workshop in Romania. In the present day, the glassware made by Gabriela Seres is retailed at premium international designer stores, such as Lane Crowford (Hong Kong), William Ashley (Canada), T2 Tea (Australia & UK), Roche Bobois (UK), OMA and INV Home (India). The ethereal designs and patterns that inspired many artists worldwide have also received great global recognition from connoisseurs, as well as art and art deco enthusiasts. How it’s made Unlike the old factories, which were limited to standard production of laboratory glassware and to a small range of decorative objects made of smooth tubes according to customers’ requested models, we approach a new, original and innovative perspective of glass tube processing, using tubes of different shapes and large diameters. Some parts are then manually finished by various specific techniques and then such as luster painting, sandblasting, embossing, techniques which give the object a desired harmony between form, material and decoration. Before carrying out quality control, objects are carefully sorted by aesthetic criteria required by the spirit of design. For each piece a Certificate of Authenticity is emitted and signed to attest that the product is handcrafted and of high quality.