A rare west country seal top silver spoon, with a Salisbury Group A finial. The seal top is prick engraved "E.B over T.B, 1661", indicating the celebration of a marriage. The bowl is fig shaped, and the stem is tapered and faceted. A small rat-tail connects the bowl to the stem. The seal top join is clearly visible at the back of the spoon, a horizontal join, as opposed to V joint seen on London spoons. The seal top is a decorative baluster casting, of substantial size, decorated with scrolls and gadrooning. This has been described by Tim Kent as a "Salisbury Group A" (Salisbury Silver and its Makers, 1550-1700, Silver Society Journal 3), where similar examples are illustrated on page 16. Kent has recognised that many West Country seal tops of the period were made by one silversmith who specialised in seal top castings, and who distributed them to the silversmiths of the area. Kent also identifies John Smith II as one of the silversmiths who used these (he cites an example of a Salisbury type B found on a sea...

A matching set of crested Georgian silver flatware, including 12 tablespoons, 2 sauce ladles, 2 saltspoons and butterknife, all of very good gauge and quality. The pattern is Fiddle and Thread, and all pieces have an interesting double crest, indicating a marriage between 2 noble families. The first crest is of a head and shoulders of a bearded man with unruly hair, the second a raised fist holding a halbeard. The saltspoons have gilded bowls to prevent corrosion. The butterknife is a later addition to the set (made in 1895), and only has the bearded man crest. The makers mark on the butterknife has been removed, possibly to allow the retailer to overstamp. Chawner was a prolific spoonmaker, he ran a large workshop of journeymen, whose individual marks can be seen on the spoons (devices include stars, bars, circles and triangles).

Beautiful 17th century memorial (memento mori) matching spoon and fork set in outstanding condition, we feel they deserve to be in a museum. Both have cast triangular handles with an unusual finial, which appears to be a naked woman with a serpents head. The fork has 3 prongs, and the spoon has a crude short rattail. Both are engraved " SARA LEWES Obyt 7 Juny 1672". This set is illustrated and described on page 90-91 of the book "Cape Silver" by Stephan Welz, 1976. Welz describes them as possibly Cape, but we feel they are more likely to be Dutch. A very similar spoon is depicted on page 142 of "Dutch Silver" by M.H. Guns, the spoon has an almost identical bowl and shaft. No hallmarks are present. Note: - The curator of the Silver Dept, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, has now described this set as Auricular form, typical of Netherlands in the second half of the 17 th century. His opinion is that it is probably colonial, as known Dutch examples have hallmarks. Note 1 - This set has now been featured in an excellent a...

A rare Cape Silver lemoen lepel (orange spoon) and matching konfyt fork (preserve), we have not encountered a matching set before, none are recorded in the Cape silver reference books. The spoon is the traditional elegant lemoen lepel shape, with narrow, pointed boat shaped bowl, v shaped drop, and triangular terminal. The matching fork has 4 tines, both feature traditional Cape prick engraving with a 4 petalled flower. Both are clearly hallmarked with makers mark IC in rectangular punch with canted corners for Johannes Combrink, and also are punched with initials IFS, we assume the original owner. Welz describes orange spoons as"probably the most attractive type of spoon made at the Cape, derived from Dutch spoons", pg 95. He also notes that all known examples are by Cape born silversmiths of the early 19th century (so not made by the more prolific English immigrants who arrived after 1815). Heller, in his book History of Cape Silver, describes orange spoons as "exquisite". Johannes Combrink of the famous Co...

A very rare set of 4 Palm pattern soup spoons, made by George Adams of Chawner & Co, who were the most important mid 19th century firm of spoon makers (Pickford, Jacksons Hallmarks, pg 56). The spoons are exceptional quality and weight, just under 100 grammes each, they are a joy to hold. The spoons are engraved with the original owners initials, "JK & CK". The Palm pattern is described as "very rare, produced by Chawner & Co, in whose pattern book it appears" by Pickford in his book "Silver Flatware, pg 148". The book also has a photo of a Palm pattern fork and spoon from the V&A museum. The spoons are beautifully made, with good detail on the palm leaves. The hallmarks on all 4 spoons are extremely clear, marked on the bowl to prevent damage to the pattern. Two interesting journeymans marks are also present, 3 dots and K, probably the craftsmen involved in making the spoons. A Palm pattern tablespoon sold as lot 73, Finial postal auction January 2012. Please note we also have a Palm pattern butter knife, S1...

A rare set of early Scottish Provincial tablespoons from Aberdeen, in the Old English pattern. The spoons all have engraved initial "P", which is contemporary. The spoons are early, and have a double drop. The spoons have pleasing dimensions, and are a good weight. The hallmarks include makers mark "AT" in script for Alexander Thompson, who worked between 1770 and 1779 in Aberdeen. The second mark is "ABD.n" in script, for Aberdeen (see Jackson pg 584). All 8 spoons are hallmarked, but some hallmarks have been slightly compressed during shaping of the spoons, and some are lightly struck or worn. Alexander Thompson was apprenticed to Coline Allan (one of Aberdeen's finest silversmiths), he was free in 1770, but unfortunately died young in 1779. He made very high quality spoons (Michael Wilson, Aberdeen Silver, A Collectors Guide, pg 32, which is a book we highly recommend).

Attractive set of antique Tiffany sterling flatware in the rare Tiffany pattern, comprising matching set of Tablespoons, Tableforks, Dessertspoons and Dessertforks (6 of each). The Tiffany pattern (pattern No 1 in the book "Tiffany Silver Flatware, 1845-1905) was designed by Edward C Moore, and was the first pattern he designed. The pattern is lovely, described as "Renaissance Revival, with modified Greek double scroll with shell like antefix and honeysuckle blossom" in the Tiffany Flatware book. It was produced between 1869 and 1917. In 1956 this pattern was re-introduced as the Beekman pattern, which does not have the intriguing scrolls that protrude halfway up the stems. Each piece has a monogram JHC, and each is clearly hallmarked "C Tiffany & Co, Sterling, PAT 1889". They are of exceptional quality, as you would expect from Tiffany, and are all a good weight. The Tiffany Silver Flatware book describes this pattern as "rare, seldom seen" (page 171). This pattern was the first flatware pattern that Tiffany...

A fabulous set of 12 Arts and Crafts hand forged silver Rat-tail Hanoverian teaspoons, made by the Harts of Chipping Campden, who still operate as the Guild of Handicraft today. The spoons have a ribbed Hanoverian front and Rat-tail, copying the popular 18th Century pattern circa 1730. These spoons are the large teaspoon size, and are quite heavy (all over 20 grammes), and are very pleasing quality. 3 Spoons were made in 1974 (a short year which only ran for 7 months, as the change-over month was moved from May to January), 3 are 1975 and 6 are 1976, so possibly the set was built up over time. The 3 spoons from 1974 are slightly lighter (average 20 grammes) than the other 9 (average 23.5 grammes), and have a slightly smaller and more elongated bowl, the remaining nine are identical in every way, possibly a different silversmith made the first 3. This slight difference is only really noticeable on close inspection and comparison (see photographs). The hallmarks on all 12 spoons are clear, including makers mark...

A beautiful pair of French sterling silver salad servers in the Sceaux pattern, that carries the marks of 2 of France's greatest silversmiths - Christofle and Cardeilhac. The quality and weight of this pair is outstanding, they are a joy to use. They are the traditional shape, the fork has 3 fat tines, and both have a matched shaped cut-out where the bowls join the handles. They are double struck (pattern repeated on both sides), and they have not been engraved. The Sceaux pattern was produced by Christofle Cardeilhac between 1983 and 1999, it is similar to the classical Fiddle, Thread and Shell pattern. Cardeilhac produced a print advertisement aimed at the US market featuring the Sceaux pattern in 1983, with the tagline "Even in France only a few own Cardeilhac Sterling", this ad can be seen on Ebay. Both pieces are clearly hallmarked with 4 hallmarks in the bowls, these include 1. the Christofle makers mark (diamond punch, 3 stars with bee below, OC for Orfevre Christofle), 2. the Cardeilhac makers mark (c...

A fabulous set of 12 Scottish Provincial dessertspoons in the Fiddle pattern, made by Rettie & Son in Aberdeen in 1837, and hallmarked in Edinburgh. The spoons are good quality, and in remarkable condition, they have not been used much, 11 are perfect, 1 has a very small dent to the bowl. The spoons are engraved with original owners initial W. All 12 spoons are clearly hallmarked "R&S A B D" for Rettie and Son, Aberdeen, alongside full Edinburgh hallmarks for 1837, with William IV duty mark. Middleton Rettie and his son William started the business in 1824, supplying quality goods from 151 Union Street to wealthy Aberdeen citizens. They were joined by other brother James in 1847, and traded until 1892. They are known for extremely high quality items (Michael Wilson, Aberdeen Silver, page 56), these spoons are no exception. Note - We have a matching set of tablespoons S11345.

A magnificent Arts and Crafts silver Apostle spoon, one of the finest we have seen. The spoon has a well cast Apostle complete with Nimbus in flowing robe, with one hand raised in blessing. The detail is lovely, including the full beard and flowing hair. He stands on an attractive pedestal with scrolls and foliage. The stem is very unusual, with an open pear shaped loop at the base and central groove (front and back), it is hand hammered and is wrapped in an applied entwined scroll. The bowl is also hand hammered, circular but tapered as it joins the stem, with a fascinating drop (or join), the tapered bowl splits into two strands which are curled into rolls, held in place by 2 silver balls - we have never encountered this before in a spoon. The hallmarks are clear, including makers mark F.C in quatrefoil punch for Frederick Courthope. Courthope took over the business of respected George Angell in 1884. he started trading in his own name in 1889, he worked until 1912. He was a master silversmith, who hand mad...

A rare set of Old English Military Thread and Shell pattern (also called Military Shell) tableforks and dessertspoons (3 of each). These are good quality, the forks around 90 grammes each and the spoons over 60. All 6 have an engraved family crest, a raised lion facing right between 2 horns. The pattern has the regular Thread and Shell pattern, double struck (on both sides), but with scrolls instead of shoulders, as with all Military variants (Pickford, Silver Flatware, page 117). Pickford describes this pattern as "a rare pattern illustrated in the Chawner & Co Pattern book, Appendix page 218", where the Chawner book shows this pattern, termed as "Military Shell". Pickford did not illustrate a photographic example of this pattern , a further indication of its rarity. The hallmarks on all 6 items are very clear, makers mark GA for George Adams of Chawner & Co, and London date letter P for 1870. In addition, all pieces carry additional journeyman's marks (Y, K, 3 petal flower, O), so the particular silversmit...

A set of 13 sterling silver Apostle spoons, with finials plated in 24 carat gold, authentic replicas of 15th century originals, inspired by sculptures on Chartres Cathedral, France. They include: 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 a carpenters square, and St. John the cup of sorrow. The spoons are from a set (no 129), issued by South African Guild of Silversmiths in 1978, limited to 2000 sets. The hallmarks are clear, and include maker mark for the South African Guild of Silversmiths, 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. They come complete with original signed certificate of authenticity, and t...

A rare Cape Silver lemoen lepel (orange spoon) and matching konfyt fork (preserve), no sets like this one are recorded in the Cape silver reference books, but we have previously sold a similar set (S1812). Neither the spoon nor fork are hallmarked, but the style and decoration of them leave no doubt they are Cape in origin. The spoon is the traditional elegant lemoen lepel shape, with narrow, pointed boat shaped bowl, rounded drop, and triangular terminal. The matching fork has 4 tines, both feature matching traditional Cape prick engraving with a 8 pointed star. Both are punched with initials DM, we assume the original owner. Welz describes orange spoons as "probably the most attractive type of spoon made at the Cape, derived from Dutch spoons", pg. 95. He also notes that all known examples are by Cape born silversmiths of the early 19th century (so not made by the more prolific English immigrants who arrived after 1815). Heller, in his book History of Cape Silver, describes orange spoons as "exquisite". Mo...

A fabulous Belle Epoque French silver 950 standard flatware set for 6, in the beautiful Louis XV pattern, by renowned Parisian silversmith Emile Puiforcat. This 12 piece luncheon or dessert set has 6 spoons and forks, finely decorated on both sides with scrolls and foliage, the pattern also extends around the top of the bowls, which is quite unusual. Louis XV is an early Puiforcat pattern, long out of production, so rarely seen today. The spoons and forks are lovely quality, the forks have long elegant tines, and are in excellent condition, with no monogrammes. Two hallmarks are present, makers mark EP in diamond lozenge, with penknife (un canif) between the letters, and French Minerve 1st Standard mark, with 1 next to forehead, indicating 950 purity (so higher purity than sterling 925). 4 Spoons and 4 forks have both marks clearly struck, 2 spoons and 2 forks have no hallmarks. Emile Puiforcat established his business in 1857 at 18 Rue Chapon, it still exists today and is known as of of the leading French si...

A magnificent set of 13 gilded silver Italian apostle spoons, featuring the 12 apostles on the smaller spoons and the "Master" on the larger spoon - all in their original box. They are extremely good quality and well made, the cast finials have very fine detail. The stems are twisted with a beaded design, and a winged female angel joins the bowls to the stems. Each apostle is named on the back of the finial in Italian - (S. Pilip, Giag, Paol, Luca, Mat, Bart, Piet, And, Tom, Mar, Giov, Sim). The spoon bowls are all made of silver coins (Piastra's) from the Papal States (which included most of central Italy in the 18th century) dated between 1676 and 1802. The coins have the Papal Arms for the following Popes: Innocento XI (1676-1689), Alessandro XIII (1689-1691), Innocento XII (1691-1700), Clement XI (1700-1721), Clement XII (1730-1740), Clement XIV (1769-1774), Pius VI (1775-1799) and Pius VII (1800-1823). Two of the coins, dated 1691, are "Sede Vacante" - translated "The Seat is Empty", meaning they were m...

A rare Irish provincial silver toddy ladle made in Cork, but hallmarked in Dublin. The ladle is circular with a lip for pouring, and has a whale bone handle. The ladle is beautifully decorated, with embossed flowers, leaves and scrolls, on a stippled background. The pouring lip is decorated with a "sunburst" collar. The decoration is typical of the Irish silver of the 1820 period, with floral repousse (embossing) on a background stippled to a matt finish (Bennett, Collecting Irish Silver, pg 79). The whalebone handle is 4 sided, and has an unusual knop end, the circular knob set above silver banded decoration. The hallmarks are all very clear, including makers mark PG in oval outline (Cork mark no. 80 in Bennett). The Dublin Goldsmiths company passed an act in 1807 requiring the Kings head to be stamped on all plate made in Ireland. As this could only be done in Dublin, it forced the provincial goldsmiths to start sending silver to Dublin for hallmarking. Garde, who worked in Cork between 1812 and 1845, appe...

An extremely rare antique 9 carat solid gold spoon, probably made as a special commission. The spoon has a cast Griffin head above a Marquess coronet finial, the detail is lovely. The handle is twisted, and the bowl has scalloped edges, and is engraved with the original owners initials WDB. The quality is excellent, this would have been an expensive item when made. The spoon is made of 9 carat rose gold, and has been gilded in 18 carat yellow gold to enhance it's appearance. The rose and yellow gold accents accenuate the Griffin, the back of the bowl is rose gold, and the engraved initials show the rose gold coming through. We are informed by a leading London dealer that plating in 18 carat gold did occur during the period on high end goods. The hallmarks are excellent, and include makers mark BHJ, 9 and 375 for 9 carat gold, Birmingham city mark and date letter r for 1891. Additional 9 carat marks are present on the bowl. B.H. (Barnet Henry) Joseph & Co. were founded in 1865, by 1889 they were "one of the la...

A pair of Georg Jensen Parallel or Relief pattern salad or vegetable servers, in the Parallel pattern, also called Relief # 25 pattern. They are a lovely classic Art Deco shape, with rectangular handles with serrated edge design, and the rare additional of 2 circular "wings" midway up the handle. Both have clear hallmarks, the GJ in rectangle makers mark (used between 1933 and 1944) above "Sterling Denmark". The fork also has additional London import marks for 1936, and the G.J Ld makers mark used by the London Jensen shop. The parallel pattern is interesting most of the smaller items have no "wings", a few of the larger serving items have scroll "wings" , the circular "wings" present here appear to be the rarest addition to the pattern. The pattern was designed in 1931 by Oscar Gundlach-Pedersen, a famous Danish architect who designed a number of important buildings. He was born in 1886, he served as Georg Jensen's last apprentice in 1911, he later returned to the Georg Jensen firm as Manager and Artistic D...

A set of 8 Cape Silver tablespoons and table forks (4 of each) in the Old English pattern, all with original owners engraved initials JM in script. The forks are lovely, long and elegant, and in great condition, the spoons have seen more use, with wear to the bowls. The spoons have wide circular drops, more continental in style. Six pieces (4 spoons and 2 forks) have additional initials AFDT engraved on the back of the stems, we assume an earlier owner, the AFDT showing signs of wear. Seven items have excellent hallmarks (makers mark IC and crude anchor, Welz mark 25), one fork has different marks, makers mark IC struck with a worn punch (Welz mark 29) and what appears to be crowned leopards head (clearly struck but worn punch, outline clear but no detail). Combrink had a long career, and this IC mark with worn punch is well known, it is assumed the punch became worn over time. The crowned leopard town mark is more of a mystery, this punch was used by Twentyman and Waldek (Welz 135 and 163), and is unknown by...