A rare Scottish provincial soup ladle, made by John Heron in Greenock. The ladle is the attractive Celtic Pointed pattern (Old English pointed, Pickford, Silver Flatware, pg 96), which was only made in Scotland and Ireland. The ladle has original engraved initial E, in traditional Scottish style. This is a large, substantial and heavy ladle, with a generous circular bowl, a pleasure to use. The hallmarks are excellent, very clear, just a portion on the right of the sailing ship not visible, it was not well struck on that side. The hallmarks include makers mark JH, anchor, 3 masted sailing ship complete with sails, rigging and flying pennants, initial C and oak tree (Turner, Directory of Scottish Provincial Silversmiths, pg 68, and Jackson pg 605. The anchor and sailing ship relate to Greenock's history as an important port and shipbuilding centre, the oak tree refers to the town's original name (Green Oak).

A magnificent silver gilt snuffbox, with a cast panel of a scene from Greek mythology, showing Hebe, Goddess of Youth, feeding Jupiter (disguised as an eagle) with Ambrosia, the nectar of eternal youth. Hebe, or Juventas in Latin, was the cup bearer to the Gods, responsible for feeding them "Heavens Wine" to provide immortality. The box is engine turned, and has a flower head thumb pull. This box is of outstanding quality, and is heavy and has a pleasing feel. Hallmarks are very clear.

A rare Cape silver Basting (or serving) spoon, by the Cape's "Greatest Silversmith" Daniel Heinrich Schmidt, as described by Heller in History of Cape Silver. The spoon is Hanoverian in style, with a very pronounced "turn up" end, almost 90 degrees to the spoon handle, a strong pip and a rib on the front of the handle. The spoon also has a double drop, and the stem changes from rounded to flattened. The spoon is a very good guage, with solid bowl and strong tip, very suitable for use. The hallmarks include makers mark HNS (mark 174 and 175 in Welz, Cape Silver) and a bunch of grapes. This was described as an unknown maker by Welz, but it is now accepted that this is the mark of Daniel Schmidt, with some wear and damage to the punch so the D looks more like an H (see Welz marks 108 and 109). The presence of the bunch of grapes, identical to that used by Schmidt, confirms this. The only other Cape silversmith to use a bunch of grapes was Jan Lotter, his bunch is quite distinctly different. Further confirmation ...

A set of 13 sterling silver Apostle spoons, as follows: The Master, St. Peter, St. John, St. Matthew, St. Andrew, St. Philip, St. Jude, St. James the Greater, St. James the Less, St. Matthias, St. Simon, St. Thomas, and St. Bartholomew. The Apostles are well modeled, with lovely detail, as can be seen from the photographs. For example, St. Peter has keys, St. Simon a saw, St Andrew a cross, St. Jude an axe, and St. James a staff and bible. The spoons are from a set (no 97), issued by The Heritage Collection in 1978, limited to 1000 sets. The hallmarks are clear, and include maker mark CM (Cape Mint, part of the Pagliari Group), STG for Sterling silver, antelope head for South Africa, and date letter E for 1978. All the spoons have the Apostle's name engraved on the stem, and the set number 97. They come complete with original signed certificate. The original solid wooden box is also available, this is large and heavy (1.5 kilograms), so will require extra postage if required. Note - We now have another set a...

A set of four silver "Gourmet" wine labels, for Brandy, Sherry, Port and Whisky. The labels feature a well dressed gourmet sitting at a well stocked table with knife and fork in hand tucking into a whole fish, he is surrounded by various food and drink, including a chicken, boar's head, ribs, jelly, wine bottles and mugs, with 2 fruit baskets either side. The gourmet's feet protrude from beneath the table, the hallmarks are between his feet. The labels are crescent shaped with the original chains intact, and as can be seen from the photos are well modelled, quite humorous with lots of detail. The label is a copy of an antique Belgium slot wine label circa 1814-31, depicted in the book "Wine Labels 1730 - 2003", figure 1308, page 344, described as "overwhelmingly self-indulgent gourmandise". The labels include maker's mark MWD in a wine bottle punch for Michael Wyard Druitt, who specialises in high quality handmade wine and decanter labels (see www.decanter-labels.com). Michael Druitt is an active membe...

A hand hammered silver bowl on upturned base, with silver ball feet and decoration. It is beautifully made, of good gauge, and is engraved "To Ian Desborough Elliot from his Godmother, 1901. In small things liberty, in great things unity, in all things charity". The hallmarks are clear, including the makers mark. The Guild of Handicraft Ltd was formed by Charles Robert Ashbee in 1898, and worked from New Bond Street. It went into liquidation in 1908, amidst complaints that the large London firms plagiarised designs and sold them cheaper. The Guild consisted of 50 craftsmen, and each item was made by hand.

A rare early Kay Bojesen Art Nouveau silver server, he would probably have called it a sandwich server. The server is typically Art Nouveau, very similar in style to early Georg Jensen pieces, with a ball finial crowning another ball, with 8 supporting strands in a vase shape, with 2 S shaped wings on the side. The handle is also vase shaped, with rounded corners, so pleasing to hold. The serving bowl is wedge shaped, flat in front with a small bowl, and 2 supporting raised sides to hold items in place. The connection between handle and bowl has 2 scrolls below a pyramid style step. The server is clearly hand made, you can see variations in how the 8 strands connect. The hallmarks are excellent, makers mark KBS, Kay Bojesen device (oval with picture, ships funnel?), and standard mark 830S for 830 grade silver. Kay Bojesen (1886-1958) trained with Georg Jensen 1907-1910, he opened his own workshop in 1913, at first making similar designs to Jensen (we date this piece to early in his career). In 1951 his "Grand...

An interesting 17th century traveling knife and fork, in leather sheath, with matching pin in the front of the sheath (for attachment to belt?). The knife, fork and pin have lion heads with open mouth, made in brass or bronze above mixed material handles, dark grained wood, lighter carved wood, brass pins, circular plugs (yellow material), diamond steel, quite an attractive design. The steel blade has a distinctive makers mark, II IS with a cross in-between, with dots in triangular shape either end, some dots above and below as well (we welcome assistance with identification, thanks). The blade also has a hookat the handle end. The fork is 2 pronged, with a pierced heart shaped connection to handle, with engraving. The leather sheath is also lovely, finely decorated with scrolls, dots and zig-zags. This is not our area of expertise, but we have seen similar sets in the book "Eight Centuries of European Knives, Forks and Spoons by Klaus Marquardt, for example the 16th century Italian examples have very simila...

A pair of early Georgian circular salt cellars, made by David Hennell I, the leading mid 18th century maker of salt cellars. The cellars have undulating gadroon borders, and stand on 3 cast silver shell headed hoof feet, this was the dominant design of salt cellars from 1735-1760, along with the lion mask paw feet variant. Both cellars have original owners engraved initials (possibly PH, but this is worn through polishing). The cellars are hallmarked 2 years apart (1748 and 1750), but are identical in design, and have been a pair for a long time given the style and wear on engraved owners initials. The 1748 cellar is slightly heavier (87 vs 78 grammes), it has 3 clear hallmarks, but no makers mark. The 1750 cellar has 4 hallmarks, including makers mark DH in script under Fleur-de-Lys in shaped shield (Grimwade mark 471), the marks have some wear but are all clearly visible. David Hennell was freed in 1735, he retired in 1773 to become Deputy warden of the Goldsmiths Company, and died in 1785. He described him...

An early Georgian silver lemon (or orange) strainer, distinguished by a large bowl, a simple circular pierced design with 7 circles, and solid shaped handles. The strainer is engraved with a beautiful Scottish family crest on one handle, with motto "Audeo Quid Audeo" (translated I dare what I dare), above a rampant lion crest holding a shield (possibly with unicorn) and a bust of a man wearing head dress above a Ducal crown with strawberry leaves. The 7 circular piercings all have a pattern of 7 pierced holes in the centre, and in between on the sides of the bowl, overall simple but attractive and functional. The strainer is hallmarked with 4 hallmarks in the bowl, these are partially obscured by the piercing which was done after hallmarking. The date letter Q for 1731 is still clearly visible, the lion passant and crowned leopard head are still legible, the makers mark is partially struck, but the crown above rose in a shaped punch is clearly visible, above a partial L, so we can be confident this is the mar...

A set of 8 Fiddle pattern Russian silver teaspoons, with engraved contempory initial W, by the famous maker Sazikov. The spoons are of exceptional quality, and are in excellent condition, with perfectly preserved tips, and no scratches or dents at all. Sazikov was founded in 1793 by Pavel Sazikov, they received the Imperial warrant in 1846, meaning they were one of a few select firms chosen to supply the Russian Imperial family. All 8 teaspoons carry the Imperial Warrant double headed eagle hallmark, which is well struck. Sazikov produced very high quality silver until the Russian revolution of 1917, the firm being run first by Pavel's son Ignaty, later by Ignaty's sons Pavel and Sergei (Watts, Russian Silversmiths Hallmarks, pg 27). The hallmarks are very clear, and in addition to the Imperial eagle include Sazikov makers mark in Cyrillic, assay masters mark B.C. for Victor Savinkov, date letter 1862, standard mark 84 (zolotniks) and city mark for Moscow (St George killing dragon).

A fabulous lion mask head and paw feet cauldron salt cellar with near matching mustard pot, complete with blue glass liner. The salt has a gadrooned rim, and 3 cast lion mask head and feet, with very pleasing detail, and is gilded with a matt finish. The weight of both is extraordinary, these are very heavy and good quality items. The mustard pot has a hinge lid and scrolling handle. The salt was made by Hollard, Aldwinkle & Slater in 1917, the mustard pot is by the Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Company, 1920. On very close inspection you can see they do not quite match, the lions are cast in different moulds, with very slight differences in the detail - but both are reproductions of a very popular early Georgian style circa 1750. This style was also copied by Paul Storr. The hallmarks on both are very clear, the lid is also hallmarked. Hollard, Aldwinkle & Slater was an important firm who worked between 1838 and 1932, they acquired a number of leading firms including Adams (Chawner), Hennell and Higgins. The Gol...

An interesting pair of Scottish sterling silver triangular bowls, reproductions from the Traprain Treasure. The bowls have a large beaded rim, and rest on a circular foot, the bowls are quite deep, so useful for a number of items. They are quite heavy and well made. The hallmarks are very clear, Scottish thistle, Edinburgh castle and date letter D, along with "Brook & Son, St George St Edinburgh, and "Traprain Treasure 1919, Authorised Reproductions". Brook and Son were the leading Scottish silversmiths in the early 20th century, they operated between 1891 and 1939 from 87 George Street, they had a Royal Warrant from King George V (Hamilton and Inches today). The bowls are reproductions of a Roman bowl that was part of the Traprain Law treasure hoard, which was discovered by George Pringle at Traprain Law, East Lothian, in 1919. The hoard dates from 400 AD, and consisted of 160 pieces, mostly cut up ready for melting. William Brook was the silversmith involved in conserving and trying to reconstruct the origi...

A very fine silver samorodok cigarette case, of extremely good quality. Samorodok is a technique that produces a beautifully textured nugget like effect on the surface, that resembles tree bark. It is achieved by heating the silver to a temperature just below melting point, then cooling it abruptly in water. It is a very difficult technique to master, so samorodok is quite rare. Most examples extant today are of Russian origin, many by notable makers like Faberge. The case was produced in Turku, Finland, in 1955, by the makers M&N (we welcome assistance with identification of this makers mark). Turku is a medieval city, noted for its fine goldsmiths, and is Finland's oldest city. The hallmarks are clear, makers mark, Finland National mark, 813H purity mark, Turku town mark, and date letter B7 for 1955. We have been advised that makers mark M&N is for Miettinen & Nurmi, established 1945. They changed their name to Turun Hopea in the late 1960's.

An 18 carat white gold, diamond and enamel sweetheart brooch, for the Intelligence Corps. The brooch has 23 diamonds, 10 each in the supporting laurels either side and 3 in the crown. The brooch has red, green and blue enamel, all in perfect condition. The badge has a Union (or Tudor) rose, red with white centre, underneath the crown of George VI, so we can date this badge to WW II. The rose rests on 2 diamond studded laurel wreaths, above blue "Intelligence Corps" scroll. The brooch is clearly hallmarked 18CT for 18 carat gold, the pin is an identical colour, so we believe it is 18 carat white gold as well. The brooch also has an engraved number 36047, and scratch engraving numbers and letters, these are manufacturers marks. The Intelligence Corps of the British Army gathers, analyses and disseminates military intelligence, it was formed in 1914 at the onset of WW1, and is staffed by mostly officers. During WW2 members were deployed in France as part of SOE, in Africa with the Long Range Desert Group, and at...

An interesting set of 4 Roman reproduction Scottish silver miniature wine cups, perfectly preserved in original box. The wine cups have a circular spherical bowl, attached to a large flat circular base with a rim, by a baluster stem. They are quite heavy and well made, the quality is excellent. The original box reads "Brook & Son, Goldsmiths to the King, 87 George Street, Edinburgh". The hallmarks are very clear on all 4 wine cups, makers mark "BROOK & SON EDINBURGH", Scottish thistle, Edinburgh castle and date letter W. Brook and Son were the leading Scottish silversmiths in the early 20th century, they operated between 1891 and 1939 from 87 George Street (Hamilton and Inches today). These wine cups are reproductions of Roman cups that were part of the Traprain Law treasure hoard, which was discovered by George Pringle at Traprain Law, East Lothian, in 1919. The hoard dates from 400 AD, and consisted of 160 pieces, mostly cut up ready for melting. William Brook was the silversmith involved in conserving and...

Inkstand of superb quality, by reknowned maker George Fox. Both the inkwells and borders are pierced with an attractive design, and are adorned with 8 classical lion faces, 4 on each corner and 4 (with rings in mouth) around the inkwells. The stand also has a beaded border and bun feet. The lids, which are both individually hallmarked, have rose finials. The glass inkwells fit snugly into their holders.

A fabulous Sampson Mordan silver gilt scent bottle in the Aesthetic style, beautifully engraved with birds, insects, flowers and foliage, with 1 bird sitting on a nest with 2 eggs. The quality is outstanding, and the bottle has been well preserved in it's original silk and velvet lined fitted Morocco leather case. The silver gilt on the exterior and interior are a lovely golden colour, with no wear, we assume this bottle has mostly remained in it's closed box. The glass bottle has the remains of the origianl sponge inside, which could easily be removed. The hallmarks are clear, both on base and bottle lid, the rim is also hallmarked. A very similar Mordan scent bottle can be seen on the www.steppeshillfarmantiques.com website, but without the bird nest. Sampson Mordan became famous for producing high quality, innovative novelty items, many of which are highly collectable today. The firm worked between 1823 and 1941. The motto of the Sampson Mordan company was "Quality lives when price is forgotten" - Sampson ...

A fabulous early Georgian Rococo shell shaped punch ladle, in the shape of a conch shell. The ladle is embossed and engraved in typical Rococo style with a bird (peacock?) eating fruit (grapes and a pear), alongside a brick chimney with flames? at the top, surrounded with scrolls, shells, flowers and leaves. The shape of the shell and quality of the embossing and engraving is very pleasing. The shell is connected to the silver handle base with cast silver scrolls at right angles to the shell, the handle itself is turned wooden handle. The ladle is held hanging vertically, the the shape of the shell and pouring lip makes it very practical to use. The base of the handle is engraved with original owners initials A over T.T. The ladle is hallmarked with London hallmarks for 1752, and makers marks PR for Philip Roker II (Grimwade mark 3754). As all 4 marks are struck on a curved surface they are all unevenly struck, clear on the right but slightly obscured on the left, all visible enough but the makers mark could ...

A fabulous set of 6 Scottish Provincial dessert spoons in the Fiddle pattern, made by William Ferguson of Elgin, and hallmarked in Edinburgh over 3 different years between 1839 and 1841. The spoons are all engraved with original owners initial W, so clearly a set. The spoons are in excellent condition, with strong tips to the spoon bowls, with no sign of wear or use at all - no dents or scratches, these spoons must have sat in a drawer and not been used. Close examination of the 6 spoons reveals small differences in the size and shape of the bowls, shape of the Fiddle and the shape of the drop, which indicates these spoons were all made by hand. Furthermore, the spoons vary slightly in weight, the lightest is 33 grammes, the heaviest 39 grammes, they average 37 grammes, so a significant variation. The hallmarks on all 6 spoons are also very clear and well struck, they could not be better. They include makers mark WF and ELGIN, alongside Edinburgh hallmarks, 1 is for 1839, 3 for 1840 and 2 for 1841. 2 of the s...