eBaywatch, 23rd September 2026: Robert Welch
Category: Buy Secondhand
Robert Welch was a British designer and silversmith known for his cutlery and tableware. He is perhaps most associated with the Old Hall brand but there are other notable pieces worth keeping your eyes peeled for.
Welch was prolific. He started young - he sold a prototype design to J&J Wiggin, the manufacturer of Old Hall, while he was still at college - and kept going. This video from his eponymous company’s archivist gives you some context on Welch himself.
The Old Hall Club features a handy history of the brand compiled by Nigel Wiggin, great-grandson of the founder of J & J Wiggin. (Conveniently, they also have this brief guide to distinguishing genuine Welch designs from the misattributed.)
So what can we find on eBay? OK, let’s start modestly. Part of Old Hall’s Campden range, this four slice toast rack was the first of Welch’s products to receive a design award.
Source: Robert Welch
Does anyone use a toast rack these days? If you don’t, I’m sure one of these would be useful as a desk tidy to pop letters or papers in. Anyway, this one is cheap as the proverbial chips.
There’s also a six slice version.
The Campden range was Welch’s first for Old Hall. Looking at this humble toast rack it’s easy to underestimate how surprisingly new many of Welch’s designs would have appeared at the time. Some remain so even today. I never thought I would find myself typing these words but take a look at this nutcracker. Look at those lines! Incredible. There’s another here, also with its original box.
Also from the Campden range is this coffee set: a coffee pot and another for water or milk. There are a few of these on ebay but this buy-it-now listing appears to be the best value. I love the contrast of the stainless steel and the dark wood. It’s a recurring theme.
Chronologically, next came the Oriana range, designed for the P&O cruise liner of the same name. Here’s a splendid newsreel report that mentions the Oriana commission.
You’ll find this three-piece set here.
If you’d prefer individual pieces, there’s this Oriana coffee pot.
And a tea pot here.
Those angular handles make me wonder if Marc Newson was thinking of Welch when he designed this crockery for Qantas.
My personal favourite - and judging by prices, I’m guessing I’m not alone - is the Alveston range. Even more angular handles! This set is potentially a good deal, although much depends on whether there’s a reserve and how keen the other bidders are. You’ll find other sets like this going for somewhere between £100 and £150.
If you just want an individual item or want to build a set piecemeal, there’s a teapot here and a milk jug here. If you want to start really small how about this cute salt and pepper set?
Before moving on from Old Hall, here are a few random pieces. I’m not sure if these are from specific ranges.
I love this ashtray. The eccentric circles! Perfect. EDIT: it sold while compiling this.
This little dishy (for your little fishy) is another stainless/wood combo.
As is this hors d’oeuvres tray. Apparently they came in two sizes, 17 inch and 22.
Lastly, here’s what looks like a more recent candlestick, designed by Welch and marketed by his own brand not Old Hall.
OK, enough Old Hall and enough stainless steel. Moving on…
In the early 1960s, Welch started experimenting with cast iron. There’s a great article here about the genesis and evolution of what became another iconic range of Welch designs.
Probably the most famous are these candlesticks, designed, apparently without a name, in the 60s and renamed Hobart in the 90s. Like many of the vintage pieces you’ll find on eBay, these still have the “selected for the Design Centre” sticker on the base.
Using the same hooped design, this cake or fruit stand is majestic. Unfortunately, the price is too.
More affordable is this ashtray/vide poche.
And how about this large plate? Lovely.
In a similar vein, you’ll find pepper mills and nutcrackers and weights for traditional kitchen scales.
If you’d prefer something new new rather than old new, the candlesticks are still in production (although without the charming Design Centre stickers) as are several of Welch’s kitchenware designs manufactured by Victor.
To finish, here’s one last Robert Welch creation, and it has nothing to do with food or drink: a vanity mirror for Durslton Designs. Such a great combination of curves, lines and angles.
I think £130 is punchy, specially given the condition. That said, I haven’t looked for one of these for a few years and have no idea of the current market.
Here’s another for a bit less in what looks like better condition. Not sure if this is exacly the same model. The splay of the feet looks different as does the angle of the wood support.
These come in different sizes so keep your eyes peeled. For this week’s chuckle/eye-roll at 1st Dibs prices, here’s a larger one.
Of course, all this has completely ignored the many pieces of cutlery Welch designed. I’m really intrigued by this shot from the newsreel above, in particular the three pieces on the right. I can find nothing about them . Perhaps these were prototypes?
Either way, more on this - and a review of listings for Welch cutlery - will have to wait for another instalment. This is already long enough.
Finally, if this has whetted your appetite for all things Robert Welch how about this book from 1986? You’ll find cheaper copies on Abe Books but this one on eBay appears to be still in its shrink wrap.
That’s it. Happy hunting!
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