An inscription on a silver-gilt cup and cover presented to the Lord Mayor in 1741 records that the intention of the gift was to increase "the Honour and Grandeur" of the City of London. It is just one piece of an exceptional collection of plate kept at Mansion House - along with dozens of pieces of official regalia that represent the Mayorality - which is constantly in use today to uphold that honor and in the grandest way possible. The continued use of ceremonial plate by the City of London is a rare survival of medieval practices of display. Though the collection has very little silver from...