This study covers the range of domestic silver produced over 400 years of English history. The author draws examples of the styles discussed from the National Trust's own selection of silverware to be found at such houses as Knole, Dunham Massey, Ickworth and Attingham Park. He does not look at silver production in isolation, however, and offers much information on the social and economic factors which influenced the output of the craftsmen and the requirements of their patrons. Timothy Schroder studied for a year at the Victoria and Albert Museum. In 1976 he joined the Silver Department at Christie's and became Curator of Decorative Arts at the Los Angeles County Museum in 1985. Other publications include "Renaissance and Mannerism" in "The History of Silver" and "The Gilbert Collection of Gold and Silver".