A magnificent Highland Light Infantry antique silver kilt sash brooch, used to hold the shoulder plaid in place. The brooch has the monogram HLI inside the Infantry French bugle horn, set on the diamond cut Star of the order of the Thistle, with Imperial King's crown above, and "ASSAYE" scroll and elephant below. This is surrounded by a thistle wreath with 30 battle honours, all earned before 1914, these include: "Carnatic, Hindustan, Sholingur, Mysore, Gibraltar 1780-83, Seringapatam, Assaye, Cape of Good Hope 1806, Rolica, Vimiera, Corunna, Busaco, Fuentes d'Onor, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajos' Almaraz, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes, Toulouse, Peninsula, Waterloo, South Africa 1851-2-3, Egypt 1882, Tel-el-Kebir, Modder River, South Africa 1899-1902". The wreath is surrounded by an engraved scrolling border. The HLI monogram, crown, Assaye scroll and Elephant are all gilded, the gold colour stands out against the silver background, this is a lovely feature. The brooch is made with from 3 sep...

An attractive early Georgian silver salver, beautifully engraved with a family armorial and motto "Spero Infestis Metuo Secundis", translated "I hope in adversity, and fear in prosperity". The salver is the small size, often called a card tray, as it would have been used by a butler to deliver visitors calling cards. The salver has the traditional pie crust border, with alternating shells and scrolls, and is also finely engraved with shells, flowers and scrolls. The salver sits on 3 cast silver hoof feet, solder around the feet shows these have been repaired at some stage. The centre has a very clearly engraved family armorial, a shield with cross and 5 devices, under raised arm holding an arrow, above the motto. This motto is a popular one and has been used by a number of families, including Ludlow, Ellerton, Riley and Stewart, it was also used by Senator Henry Cabot Lodge in the USA. The salver is clearly hallmarked, makers mark WP in heart shaped punch for William Peaston, who worked between 1745 and 1755,...

A World War 1 Royal Artillery 15 carat gold and enamel sweetheart regimental bar brooch, clearly hallmarked 15 CT for 15 Carat gold, both the badge and the bar. The detail is lovely, red enamel crown above blue enamel "UBIQUE" (Everywhere), above a gold cannon, above blue enamel motto "QUO FAS ET GLORIA DUCUNT" (Wherever right and glory lead). The bar, pin and clasp are also 15 carat gold, the clasp has a clever locking mechanism to prevent loss, this was an expensive quality item when originally purchased. 15 Carat gold was discontinued by Britain in 1932, hence we can date this brooch to the Great War. The Royal Artillery, commonly referred to as "The Gunners", was formed in 1799, and comprises of 13 regular army regiments today.

A brass trench art military cap snuff box, with engraved inscription from the South Staffordshire Regiment, dating back to World War I. The snuff box is realistically modelled in the shape of an Officers cap, these were made from shell casings. The cap visor acts as the thumb piece to open the hinged lid, which is in excellent condition. The top of the cap is engraved "Sergt. Major A. Wilson. 11th. S. Staffs. Regt - 1915." The South Staffordshire Regiment was a line infantry regiment created in 1881, they served in the Anglo Boer War, WWI and WWII. During WWI they served on the Western front, Gallipoli, Egypt, Italy and Dublin (the 1916 Easter Rising). The Regiment raised a total of 18 battalions and was awarded 66 battle honours, 3 Victoria Crosses and lost 6,357 men during the course of the war. The 11th Battalion was a reserve unit formed in Jersey 1914, and was absorbed into training reserve battalion in 1916. We have not been able to trace Sergeant Major Wilson, all assistance appreciated.

A collection of 6 silver South African Military wrist identification tags (dog tags) dating back to World War II, and specifically the campaign in Egypt. They are all wrist identification tags, as 5 still have their original silver wrist chains, we are not sure if they were military issue or if they were purchased privately (we suspect the latter as they all have different designs) We believe them all to be sterling silver, 4 are clearly hallmarked with Egyptian hallmarks, the cat standard mark, and Arabic town marks and date letters (Cairo and date letter I for 1940 are present, amongst others). The 5th is hallmarked "Sterg" for sterling and makers mark HA&S (possibly Henry Allday & Son of Birmingham), and the 6th has a partial mark "ling" which we suspect was Sterling. The 6 tags are as follows: 1- "Maj. D. Macdonald Pres Cameron Highlanders" - with HA&S mark, fob chain, end loop missing. 2- "Lt W.T. Arthur Pres 193790", with ling hallmark, fob chain, end loop missing, solder repairs. 3- "SPR E. Gillespie N...

A Georgian silver mote spoon, made by Philip Roker III in either 1766 or 1767. The mote spoon is the traditional shape, with a pierced bowl, tapered handle and diamond point finial, which is quite sharp. The piercing has a central starburst design, surrounded by symmetrical scrolls and holes. The spoon has a long drop, which is also pierced. The spoon has 2 hallmarks, a lion passant and makers mark P. ROKER, which was only used by Philip Roker III for 2 years, hence our ability to date the spoon so precisely. This is mark 3753 in Grimwade, who ascribes the mark to Philip Roker II (who died in 1757, so we assume Grimwade is incorrect. The Roker family were specialist spoonmakers, and have left behind some wonderful spoons. Mote spoons originated in the early 18th century, and were used to skim off floating particles of tea leaves and motes (tea dust) from a cup of tea (Newman, Illustrated Dictionary of Silverware, page 217). The long thin handle with sharpened point was used to clear the spout of a teapot (wh...

A set of 4 German silver teaspoons (and a very similar tablespoon, see additional description at the bottom) with an intricate and beautiful design, made by the very prestigious firm of Daniel Vollgold & Son, who were the Court Jewellers to the Prussian Royal Family. The spoons are 800 standard and are great quality, in excellent condition, we love these spoons. The design features a cherub's head with flowing locks, set amongst scrolls, flowers and hanging fruit, the reverse has a shield shaped cartouche, engraved with the letter B in flowing script. The spoons have a baluster urn finial. All 4 spoons are hallmarked with makers mark (V) alongside 800, and the German crescent and crown in use since 1888, the marks have some wear but all are visible. Daniel Vollgold founded his business in Berlin in 1838, and was appointed Court Jeweller to the Prussian Royal family in 1860, and were still the Berlin Court Goldsmiths in 1903. They supplied silver to both Emperor's William I and Wilhelm II, and exhibited at the...

A rare 18th century Birmingham silver caddy spoon by leading maker Joseph Taylor. The spoon is a naturalistic veined leaf, very finely decorated on the back and the front, the handle a coiled tendril, simply formed from silver wire rolled into a circle, with a tail, flattened to form the connection with the bowl, it works remarkably well. The hallmarks have been individually very carefully struck, as a result all 5 hallmarks are fully intact and clearly visible, which is not often the case with finely decorated silver. They include Birmingham anchor, date letter b for 1799, cusped duty mark, lion passant and makers mark IT for Joseph Taylor. 3 very similar caddy spoons are depicted in the book "Caddy Spoons" by John Norie (a book we highly recommend), figure 59g, by Joseph Taylor dated 1798, and also 2 by Elizabeth Morley (dated 1802 and 1815), figure 22a and c. The same book says "all 18th century Birmingham caddy spoons must be considered comparatively rare and desirable, the facts are that very few were ma...

A German sterling silver cigarette case, made in 1936 to commemorative the Winter Olympics held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, which at the time was under Nazi rule. The Cigarette case in the usual rectangular shape, with a slight curve on both sides, with a push button clasp. The case is planished (hand hammered) in Arts & Crafts style on both sides, and is very pleasing quality, it is a pleasure to hold and use. The front is engraved with the 5 Olympic rings, with "GARMISCH - PARTENKIRCHEN 1936" below, this is filled with black enamel, note the slight enamel loss on 3 letters. The interior is gilded, and is engraved with previous owners name "T. BOSCH". The case is clearly hallmarked with 4 hallmarks, all on the clasp, they include German moon and crown, makers mark LW entwined in a shield for Lutz & Weiss, 925 and STERLING standard marks. The winter Olympics were held in February 1936, this was followed by the summer Olympics in Berlin in July 1936 (the last time the winter and summer Olympics were he...

An interesting antique Ecclesiastical silver straining ladle, made in 1819 in Lemberg, then part of the Austro-Hungarian empire, but now known as Lviv, the largest city in Western Ukraine. The ladle has a round bowl, pierced with straining (or sifting) holes, arranged in the shape of a 6 petalled flower, the holes have different sizes, but all quite small - so we think it is more likely for straining than sifting. The plain handle is at 45 degrees from the bowl, the ladle overall is a good weight and very pleasing quality. The ladle has 3 clearly struck hallmarks on the back of the end of the handle. The first is the Austro-Hungarian standard mark used between 1807 and 1866, with 13 in circle for 13 loth (812 fineness), date 1819 around circle, and town mark D above the circle, with D identifying Lemberg / Lwow. The second mark TF co-joined in oval punch under D is the tax free mark (taxfreistempel) used from 1810 to denote "ecclesiastical silver not subject to delivery to the authority", so we assume the lad...

A beautiful Italian silver salt cellar, made in the Kingdom of Naples (Napoli) or the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, at the end of the French Domination period when the Kingdom had Napoleonic rulers, the French influence can be seen in the design. The cellar has 2 parts, a circular base with intricate pierced skirting, gadrooned rim, and 3 wonderful cast feet with lion heads with rings, and paw feet, the detail is lovely. The feet are supported by curved triangular supporting bars, which contain the hallmarks. The base holds a circular gilded cellar, which can be removed for cleaning, it is held in place with a locking mechanism, 2 bars that fit into slots and then rotate to secure. In addition to the beautiful design, the quality is very pleasing, this would have been an expensive item when new. The condition is also pleasing, just a small dent to the cellar, and another dent to the skirting, salt cellars were well used and often are damaged. The base has 3 hallmarks, makers mark GB under device (all assistan...

A lovely Georgian silver basting (or serving spoon) by Hester Bateman, the most famous 18th century female silversmith, she has also been described as the "Queen of British Silversmiths". The spoon is Old English pattern, and is engraved with a family crest of a crowned lion breathing fire, this is very clearly engraved. The hallmarks are very clear, they could not be better, and include makers mark HB in script, this mark was used from 1778 to 1790. All the hallmarks have very clear detail, you can see the hair and collar on the duty mark, fringes on the lion passant legs and mane.

A pair of beautiful Norwegian 830 silver caviar spoons in the Russian style, made by Jacob Tostrup, one of Norway's leading silversmiths, goldsmiths and jewellers. The quality and the decoration of the spoons is superb, Tostrup has used a combination of selective gilding of parts of the handles to accentuate the spoons design and high quality engraving. The spoons have circular bowls and a typically Russian design, dating back to a period when Russian influence was greater in Norway than it is today. The intricate engraving has clearly been done by a master craftsman. The backs of the bowls are engraved with original owners initials P & T B in script. The spoons have been perfectly preserved in their original silk and felt lined wooden box, which reads "J. Tostrup Juwelier Kristiana". Both spoons are clearly hallmarked "830 TOSTRUP 1879". Jacob Tostrup was founded in 1832, Jacob died in 1890 but the business was continued by family members until 1962. "Jacob Tostrup received the title royal court jeweler, a...

A Belgium antique silver matching tablespoon and table fork in the Fiddle and Thread pattern, made in Brussels circa 1832 by leading silversmith Auguste Bonnevie. Both are a pleasing weight, these are good quality items. The pair have an interesting family or city crest engraved on the back, a shield with 4 small crosses surrounding a larger cross, below Royal crown, above "Bruges". The Cross surrounded by 4 crosslets is the Jerusalem Cross, originally used as the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, but since used for various Crusader states, and now used as the Georgian flag. Above the crest original owners initials OI are also engraved. Both spoon and fork have the same 3 hallmarks, very clear makers mark of B below silversmiths hammer in square punch (makers mark 1921 in the book "Belgische Zilvermerken" by R Stuyck, pages 41 and 185), for Auguste Bonnevie. Bonnevie worked from 1814 to 1869 (a long period so possibly father and son), based in Brussels. The second mark is the Minerva head guarantee ma...

A fabulous early Georgian (George II) silver sauce boat, one of the best we have seen. The sauce boat is an exceptional size and quality, tipping the scales at 492 grammes (17.4 ounces), and is wider and shallower than later examples. The sauce boat has Rococo decoration, with engraved swirling shells, flowers and scrolls, it also has an intricate diamond pattern which is also hand engraved. The 3 cast shell feet are also fabulous, with a scroll between shell foot and shell attachment. The leaf capped double scroll handle has also been cast and applied. The sauce boat has a Rococo family armorial (3 wheat sheaves and a cross) on one side and a family crest on the other, consisting of a lion rampant holding 2 wheat stalks. The Sable a cross potent is the Alleyn family, in this case the arms of the wife, we have not yet identified the arms of the husband. It may possibly be the Lidsel family from Essex, Gules three garbs argent. This sauce boat is accompanied with the Heraldic report identifying the Alleyn fami...