The Armada Dishes are among the most celebrated survivals of Elizabethan silver. Their story combines romance, naval adventure, and family tradition, yet it is also firmly grounded in verifiable records of craftsmanship and heraldry.
We first published an article about the Armada Dishes in April 2009, sharing one of the earliest online accounts of their history. Since then, many versions have appeared elsewhere, often borrowing from our original research. This updated article brings together primary sources, academic commentary, and new details, reaffirming our position as both silversmiths and specialists in silver’s history.
The Legend of the Armada Dishes
Many histories of the Armada Dish claim that they were made from or captured from Spanish treasure ships returning from the New World around the time of the Spanish Armada and Sir Walter Raleigh’s exploits in the English Channel.
This romantic theory is linked to Sir Christopher Harris, a friend and colleague of Raleigh’s, who lived in Radford near Brixton, Devon. Records show he served as a Vice-Admiral during the Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604) and would have been entitled to a share of captured spoils - making him wealthy enough to commission such luxurious silver.
It’s even possible that Harris used silver from the Portuguese ship Madre de Deus (Mother of God), seized by the English in 1590 when returning from the East Indies laden with gold, silver, jewels, and spices.
Craftsmanship and Design
The Armada Service is made up of twenty-six partly gilt silver dishes, each engraved with the arms of Sir Christopher Harris and hallmarked in London between 1581 and 1601.
In Elizabethan England, such dishes were used for formal banquets - both as serving platters and as covers to keep food warm. Few functional silver items of this type survive today, as many were later melted down or redesigned to suit changing fashions.
The Survival of the Armada Dishes
The survival story of the Armada Dishes is as fascinating as their creation.
When Sir Christopher Harris died in 1625 without heirs, his property passed to his great-nephew John Harris, MP for Liskeard, Cornwall. During the English Civil War, John Harris fought for the Royalist cause, and it is believed that around 1645 to 1648, he hid the Armada Dishes in an agricultural building near his home in Brixton to prevent them from being seized by Parliamentary troops. The secret of their hiding place died with him.
Nearly two centuries later, in 1827, three Dartmoor labourers employed by a Mr Splat of Brixham discovered the dishes while enlarging a potato storage building. The engraved arms and hallmarks allowed the Harris descendants to reclaim them despite competing claims from Mr Splat and the Crown.
The family retained the collection for almost sixty years before selling them through Messrs Debenham, Storr and Son in London on 10 May 1885, described as “A Unique Service of Elizabethan Banqueting Plate.” Twenty-three of the thirty-one dishes were sold to Albemarle Cator of Norfolk - whose wife, Mary Cordelia Mohun-Harris, was coincidentally, a distant relative of the Harris family.
In 1911, after Cator’s death, the dishes were sold at Christie’s, London for £11,500 - a substantial sum for the time and the equivalent of £1.2 million today. They became famous once again and were copied by London silversmiths, complete with their distinctive uneven hallmarking.
Today, you can see the Armada Dishes in the British Museum. They were acquired in 1992 with a £900,000 grant from the National Heritage Memorial Fund - over £30,000 per dish.
Courtesy of the Trustees of the British Museum
In December 2019 two other silver dishes from the Armada Service with the makers mark of TE, which may have been for Thomas Ellis, were sold at Christie’s for £175,000. Both were 8 ¼ in. (21 cm.) diam. The TE makers mark was found on 21 of the Armada Dishes now on display in the British Museum. You can view these here.
The Silver Armada Dishes from the Hersey Collection
You don’t need to spend £30,000 to own an Armada Dish or to lift a trophy at Ascot. At Hersey & Son, we offer a beautiful range of Silver Armada Dishes inspired by the originals - from £260 to £2,500 - crafted with the same elegance and attention to detail.
Explore our Silver Armada Dishes collection on our website
These dishes make timeless gifts and are often presented as sporting trophies, including at race meetings and the Badminton Horse Trials, where since 1964 they have been awarded to riders who have completed the competition five times - among them Princess Anne in 1980.
Their wide, polished surface offers generous space for engraving names, dates, logos, and messages, making them perfect for commemorating achievements and milestones.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are they called Armada Dishes?
The name is linked to the romantic idea that they were made from Spanish silver captured after the defeat of the Armada in 1588. Although there’s no solid evidence to confirm this, their connection to Sir Christopher Harris and the treasure ship Madre de Deus gives the story its enduring appeal.
Who owned the Armada Dishes originally?
They were commissioned for Sir Christopher Harris of Radford, Devon, a friend of Sir Walter Raleigh and an Admiralty officer during Elizabeth I’s reign.
How many Armada Dishes are there?
The complete service consists of 26 silver-gilt dishes, hallmarked between 1581 and 1601, each engraved with the Harris coat of arms.
Where are the Armada Dishes today?
The full collection is housed in the British Museum, London, where it remains part of the national collection.
How much are the Armada Dishes worth?
In 1911, they sold for £11,500; in 1992, for £900,000. Today, they are considered priceless as part of Britain’s heritage.
Can you buy an Armada Dish?
The originals are museum pieces, but Hersey & Son offers exquisite handmade silver Armada Dishes inspired by the Elizabethan originals - available from under £100 to £850 - allowing collectors and gift-givers to enjoy a piece of history.
Own a Piece of Elizabethan Elegance
Whether as a gift, trophy, or collector’s item, a Hersey & Son Silver Armada Dish celebrates both craftsmanship and legacy - a modern continuation of one of the most fascinating stories in British silver.