Long before Links of London became best known for charms, bracelets and jewellery, the house was also producing small objects in sterling silver.
This Teddy Bear Pin Dish is a particularly appealing surviving example: a compact circular silver dish with a three-dimensional seated teddy bear positioned at the edge.
Hallmarked for 1994, the piece belongs to the earlier years of Links of London and shows the combination of polished silver, practical function and playful figurative detail that would continue to appear across later giftware and jewellery.
Vintage Links of London Teddy Bear Pin Dish in sterling silver
A Small Sterling Silver Pin Dish
The dish measures approximately 75mm in diameter and around 8mm high, placing it firmly within the scale traditionally associated with a pin or trinket dish rather than a larger serving piece.
At its centre is a shallow circular recess measuring approximately 40mm in diameter, suitable for rings, pins or other small personal items.
The dish itself is made from approximately 1mm thick sterling silver, with a broad polished rim surrounding the recessed centre.
Links of London sterling silver pin dish with seated teddy bear
The Sculptural Teddy Bear
What distinguishes the design is the small three-dimensional teddy bear seated on the rim.
The bear measures approximately:
- 20mm high
- 17mm wide
- 9mm thick
Despite its small scale, the bear is fully modelled and gives the otherwise restrained circular dish a distinctly playful character.
The contrast between the smooth silver dish and the figurative teddy also makes the piece feel more like a keepsake than a purely functional dressing-table object.
Small 75mm Links of London Teddy Bear trinket dish
Early Links of London Silverware
The surviving example documented by Links London carries full sterling silver marks including LL, 925 and a date letter for 1994.
That date places this particular dish in the earlier period of Links of London production.
The hallmark dates the individual surviving example rather than necessarily establishing the first year in which the design was produced.
Vintage sterling silver teddy bear pin dish front view
Pin Dish or Trinket Dish?
Small silver dishes of this scale can be described in several ways, including pin dishes, trinket dishes and ring dishes.
At approximately 75mm across, pin dish is the most useful traditional description for this piece, while trinket dish remains an equally understandable secondary term.
No original Links of London catalogue title has yet been recovered for this exact design, so Teddy Bear Pin Dish is used here as a clear descriptive name based on the object’s scale, form and likely use.
Links of London circular silver dish with sculptural teddy detail
A Practical Keepsake
The design sits comfortably between practical silverware and sentimental giftware.
The shallow central recess makes the object genuinely useful for holding small jewellery, while the seated teddy introduces the kind of affectionate motif often associated with keepsakes and gifts.
Without original catalogue material, it would be speculative to assign the dish to a specific baby, christening or nursery collection, but the teddy-bear subject naturally gives it that character.
Teddy Bear Pin Dish measuring approximately 75mm diameter
Dimensions of a Surviving Example
- Overall diameter: Approximately 75mm
- Overall height: Approximately 8mm
- Central recess: Approximately 40mm diameter
- Silver thickness: Approximately 1mm
- Teddy bear: Approximately 20mm × 17mm × 9mm
- Material: Sterling silver
- Hallmark date: 1994
Links of London silver dish with 40mm central recess
Vintage Surface and Condition
The surviving dish documented here has been professionally cleaned and polished and remains in good vintage condition.
Light marks, scuffs and areas of patina remain from previous use and age. These have not been aggressively removed, allowing the surface to retain the character of a genuine vintage silver object.
The dish is also accompanied by a Links of London cotton drawstring dust bag.
Side view of vintage Teddy Bear Pin Dish
A Small Piece of Links of London History
The Teddy Bear Pin Dish is a useful reminder that the original Links of London story extended well beyond jewellery.
At only 75mm across, it is a small object, but its sterling silver construction, sculptural teddy and early 1994 hallmark make it an interesting surviving example of the house’s giftware and silverworking tradition.
Until original catalogue material emerges, the piece can be documented confidently through what survives: a compact Links of London sterling silver pin dish, centred by a shallow recess and finished with a seated teddy bear at the rim.
Sculptural sterling silver teddy bear measuring 20mm high
1994 hallmarked Links of London sterling silver dish
Reverse of Links of London Teddy Bear Pin Dish showing hallmarks
Professionally polished vintage sterling silver pin dish
Links of London dressing-table silver with teddy bear detail
Small vintage silver trinket dish for rings and pins
