Some of Our Special Commissions:
1) Silver For The House Of Commons
In 2003, M. P. Levene was honoured to be commissioned by The Rt. Hon. Michael Martin MP, Speaker of the British House of Commons, to make a large silver Menorah for use every year in the British Parliament.
A Menorah is the traditional eight-branch candelabrum featured during the Jewish Festival of Chanukah.
The Speaker was surprised to discover that every December, Parliament had to borrow one when the annual service for Jewish legislators was held in his house - it did not possess its own Menorah.
We were delighted to be chosen to make this important and highly symbolic piece of silverware.
The Menorah was consecrated in December 2003 by the Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom, Dr. Jonathan Sacks. The Speaker then held a short service in his house in front of a distinguished audience of Jewish legislators and their staff.
The Menorah was made, completely by hand, in English sterling silver by M. P. Levene of London. It has an octagonal, plain stepped base and column, and a detachable nineth branch at the front to light the other candles. It is 16 inches high and 17 1/2 inches wide.
The crest of The Speaker (Portcullis and Mace) has been engraved by hand onto a special small silver scroll fitted to the top of the base. The inscription reads: Commissioned by the Rt. Hon. Michael J. Martin MP, Speaker of the House of Commons, in support of religious tolerance.
2) Five Huge Silver-Plated Candelabra for a Hotel Bar in Dublin
In May 2006, M.P. Levene was commissioned by Ireland's top lighting designer to make five massive four-light silver-plated candelabra for the main bar in Dublin's top hotel.
Each was an incredible 5 feet 7 inches high (1.7 metres)!! [seen above on the right-hand side of the picture]
The bases and columns were six-sided -- copying a Georgian design that the owners of the hotel had always liked.
It took more than three months of very hard work, as each one was formed from dozens of component parts which each had to be cast, plated, assembled and then polished.
The hotel owners were delighted with the final product, and we were very proud to have made such extraordinary pieces in such a short space of time.
3) A Large Hand-Engraved Silver Cigarette Box for a Wedding
We were asked to create a personalised gift for a couple who were marrying in the United States.
The Best Man chose one of our new hand-made silver cigarette boxes -- dimensions 8 x 5 1/4 x 2 3/4 inches (20.5 x 13.5 x 7 cm) -- lined inside with cedar wood.
Each of the friends faxed or emailed their signature to us, and our engraver carefully copied them onto the lid of the box -- with a small inscription featuring their initials and the wedding date in the centre.
The gift was a great success.
Could we make one for you?