Hester Bateman was the wife of a gold chain manufacturerJohn Bateman who died of consumption (tuberculosis) in 1760, leaving his tools to his wife in his will. Hester took over the family business and registered her own first sponsor’s mark at the Goldsmith’s Hall in 1761, simply “HB” in script. The products produced by Hester Bateman remain amongst the most collectable of all the silversmiths, even though the quality is not always regarded as the best. Known for producing ‘current fasionable designs’, resulted in very large quantites being produced, Hester Bateman is the most famous female silversmiths in British history.