With the establishment of the Church of England, the church became Protestant and ceased to be a major patron of the goldsmiths. He developed the auricular style, which consists of late Mannerist organic forms with contorted wave and scroll motifs. 1642-1649 English Civil War. Quantities of plate were melted down by both the Royalists and Parliament to pay for soldiers and arms. 1649-1660 Commonwealth Period in England.
Most silver follows a relatively plain Puritan aesthetic.
1661 Restoration of Charles II to the throne of England. High style articles begin to be more flamboyant. With increasing supplies of silver from Spanish colonies in Central and South America and growing personal wealth, the quantity of household and ornamental silver greatly increases. Some English goldsmiths begin to pursue banking activities which ultimately result in the founding of the first banks. The great Fire of London, following the Plague of 1665, destroys the workshops of numerous London craftsmen and properties belonging to City Companies like the Goldsmiths .