A fabulous sterling silver soup ladle in the popular Fiddle, Thread and Shell pattern, with engraved Marais Family coat of arms, which is very clear. The ladle is a substantial size and weight, the quality is excellent. The hallmarks are very clear, including makers mark D&J W, for Daniel & John Wellby, who worked between 1827 and 1974 from Garrick Street, London. The Marais family coat of arms is described as "Azure, a chain sable fesswise, in chief a crescent reversed and a base of two hills vert" - Pama, Heraldry of South African Families, page 53, depicted on Plate 18, no 280, of the Bell Krynauw Collection. It dates back to Charles Marais of the farm Plasir de Merle, who arrived in the Cape in 1688, and was "murdered by a Hottentot on the farm in 1689". Note - we have other matching items with the Marais Family armorial.
A collection of ten sterling silver shipping and sporting souvenir spoons, 7 with enamel finials. The spoons include: 1, 2 & 3. Steamships SS Virginian, Tunisian, Mauretania, Chester 1906, Alfred Wigley, gilded bowls 4. SS City of Poona, JRE SS, Birmingham 1929, James Fenton 5. Wembley Bowling Club, Birmingham 1913, Birmingham Medallion Co, 3 swords crested medallion, lovely quality 6. Bowling medallion trophy spoon, Birmingham 1931, Turner & Simpson 7. Bowling shield trophy spoon, Sheffield 1936, Gladwin Ltd 8. Pretoria Golf Club, Miss Whitfield, Birmingham 1902, James Fenton, beautiful crest 9. Lady golfer, Birmingham 1921, Herbert Bushell & Son, nice detail 10. UK & PC Bulldog club, Mrs BH Arnold 18/1/13, London 1912, Robert Pringle & Sons, beautiful enamel bulldog.
A lovely silver seal top spoon made by the Guild of Handicraft, to commemorate the Queen's Golden Jubilee in 2002. The spoon has a traditional seal top, hexagonal stem, hand hammered fig shaped bowl and a rat tail. Unusually the spoon has six hallmarks, including maker's mark G of H for the Guild of handicraft, sterling lion, 925 standard mark, leopard's head town mark, date letter C and the Queen's golden jubilee mark, only used in 2002. The spoon is handmade in the traditional manner, it is a pleasure to use and hold. The spoon would make an ideal Christening spoon, it could also be used as a jam spoon. The Guild of Handicraft is operated today by the Harts of Chipping Campden, "www.hartsilversmiths.co.uk". They have also published a book called: "The Harts of Chipping Campden - An insight into four generations creating fine silver in the Arts and Crafts tradition", we highly recommend this book.
A Georgian silver tablespoon in the Fiddle pattern, by perhaps the most famous of English goldsmiths, Paul Storr. The spoon is good quality, with a fatter extended drop, and a generous bowl size. The spoon also has an engraved family crest of a birds head above a tower, this has some wear but is still visible. The London hallmarks for 1819 are very clear, the makers mark PS in shaped punch is also clear but has some wear on the S. This is Paul Storr's 9th mark, with no dot between letters, with the punch outline more oval than circular, he registered this mark in 1817 (Paul Storr, 1781-1844, by N. Penzer, page 82). A crescent mark is also clearly visible next to the makers mark, this would have belonged to the journeyman who made the spoon in Storr's workshop. Penzer described Storr as "the last of the great goldsmiths", he worked between 1793 and 1838.
An interesting and pretty Georgian silver caddy spoon, with an unusual pierced bowl. The bowl is circular, and has 16 nail shaped piercings surrounding a central circular piercing, the design complemented with bright cut engraving, which continues on the handle, with a blank cartouche which has not been engraved. The spoon is clearly hallmarked, with a very clear lion passant, date letter A for 1796, and Georgian duty mark, the latter partially covers the makers mark GB in rectangular punch which was struck earlier. A small crescent moon journeyman's mark is also present, their is no town mark, although we are confident this is a London spoon. A very similar pierced caddy spoon with a different design, also by George Burrows but dated 1793, can be seen on the Steppes Hill Farm website, www.steppeshillfarmantiques.com, note this spoon also has the crescent moon mark and no town mark. Pierced caddy spoons are known but quite rare, most seem to date between 1790 and 1800, by a few London and Birmingham makers. ...
A set of 2 Victorian silver salt spoons, both with additional Broad Arrow hallmarks, indicating the spoons were owned by the British War Department or War Office, so probably used by the military, possibly an Officers Mess. The spoons are Old English pattern, and have gilded bowls, to protect the bowls from corrosive salt. The spoons are almost identical but not a pair, the first was made in 1855 by George Adams (Chawner & Co.), the second in 1859 by Robert Garrard II, who were appointed Goldsmiths & Jewellers to the King in 1830, they still hold the Royal Warrant today. The Garrard spoon has engraved initial F, and has more prominent yellow gilding, it is very slightly shorter and lighter than the Adams spoon (2 grammes lighter). Both spoons have clear hallmarks and well struck broad arrows, the Adams spoon also has a journeyman's device, the Garrard maker mark is partially worn, but the crown above the letters is clearly visible. The Broad Arrow was originally used by the British Board of Ordnance to mark i...
A collection of 10 sterling silver Royal souvenir spoons. Six spoons have enamel finials, 1 has enamel bowl as well. Six spoons are English, 3 are Canadian and 1 is Dutch. 4 spoons commemorate coronations. The spoons include: 1. Edward VII in commemoration of the Coronation, Westminster Abbey 1902, Birmingham 1901, Henry Griffiths & Sons, Abbey in bowl 2. Edward VII, Birmingham 1901, S Blanckensee & Sons, Edward in bowl, pierced cast Edward handle, gilded, a lovely spoon 3. Victoria Queen and Empress, London 1898, Saunders & Shepherd, imported F mark, gilded 4. King George V, Mary Queen Consort, Crowned at Westminster June 22 1911, Birmingham 1910, BH Joseph & Co, coronation chair in cast handle 5. Elizabeth II, Crowned 1953, Birmingham 1952, Mappin & Webb, coronation hallmark, "Fire Triumphs over Materials" for JK Smit & Sons, diamond drilling company 6. Royal visit to South Africa, King George VI and Queen Mother, South African coat of arms, Dutch dagger hallmark and makers mark for Van Kempen 7. Roy...
A collection of 10 sterling silver souvenir spoons, all from a different British town. The spoons were made in Birmingham, London, Chester and Sheffield, with dates ranging from 1893 to 1919. All 10 spoons have clear hallmarks. The 10 include: 1. Ripon, Birmingham 1912, Levi & Salaman, crest in bowl 2. Bideford, Chester 1906, John Millward Banks with flower trademark, engraved Bediiforde 1577 Sicillun Comvne De 3. Brighton, Birmingham 1918, Levi & Salaman, engraved In Deo Fidemus 4. Scarborough, Birmingham 1905, Levi & Salaman 5. Canterbury, Birmingham 1901, Turnbull Brothers, Cathedral in bowl 6. Oxford, Birmingham 1911, gilded armorial in bowl 7. Manchester Ship Canal, Sheffield 1893, Henry Wigfull, gilded armorial in bowl, cast handle with Navigation & Commerce 8. Unknown town, London 1899, Saunders & Shepherd, cast floral handle, lovely quality 9. Unknown town, Birmingham 1908, Joseph Cook & Sons 10. Oxford University, Sheffield 1919, Joseph Rodgers Note- The earlier spoons pre 1900 are notic...
A matching pair of nursery rhyme silver baby implements, a spoon and baby pusher, intended as Christening gifts. Both have short handles, the spoon with Jack and Jill picture, the pusher with Little Boy Blue. The detail on both is lovely, as can be seen from the photographs. Both are clearly hallmarked, the spoon was made in 1932, the pusher in 1936, but both by the same maker WH Collins, and both part of their nursery rhyme collection. The pusher has original owners initials MJ, lightly engraved so this could be removed. The pusher also has a registration number, indicating the design was protected.
A collection of ten American sterling silver souvenir spoons, 5 of which have decorated bowls and 6 of which have decorated stems, 2 decorated front and back, and 2 are gilded. As is usual for these American souvenir spoons, the details are lovely. The spoons include: 1. California, by Gorham, Golden Gate bowl, Eureka, Sutters Fort and California on front, State Capitol, Mission Dolores and Golden gate on back - a lovely spoon 2. Honolulu, maker R in wing, Surf Rider 3. Boulder Dam 4. Philadelphia, Hamilton & Diesinger, Founding Father 5. Hawaii, 1959, maker EJTC, 50TH State, Aloha Tower, Hawaii front, Admitted to the Union Aug 21 1959, The Aloha State rear 6. Washington, Abram French Co, Tip Top House 1852, Washington 7. Detroit, Mechanics Sterling, Detroit Harbour bowl 8. Detroit, Mechanics Sterling, Belle Isle Bridge bowl 9. Detroit, Mechanics Sterling, Water Works Park bowl 10. Chicago, Whiting, Ft Dearborn bowl.
An interesting set of 6 Victorian silver teapoons and matching sugartongs, with a 15th Century soldier carrying a halberd. This appears to be a private pattern, we have not been able to trace it in the pattern books (all assistance welcome). The pattern is very detailed, both on the front and the back, we love these spoons. In addition to the soldier, complete with collar, the front has what could be an apple tree, the back has a shield (unengraved, intended for family crest) and a different flowering plant, with a stipple background. The spoons and tongs are also great quality and a good weight, as one would expect from Elkington. All 7 pieces are clearly hallmarked, they also carry a registration mark "RD105810", so Elkington protected the design. All the spoons are 1892, the tongs are 1893. Elkington was one of the leading British Silversmiths in the 19 and 20th centuries, they were founded in 1836, and are known for their excellent quality. Note - We have now identified this pattern as "Tudor Men & Women"...
A Victorian cast sterling silver grape vine and leaf serving spoon, realistically modelled in naturalistic style. The handle features a grape vine with bunches of grapes and leaves, the bowl is a shaped vine leaf, with very fine engraving. The spoon is gilded, the gilding is worn in places, especially the bowl, but still quite a bit of gilding is present. The spoon is fine quality, heavy to hold, clearly the work of a master craftsman. The hallmarks are clearly struck on the bowl, including makers mark HW&Co for Henry Wilkinson and Co, who worked between 1831 and 1892 when they were purchased by Walker & Hall.
A beautiful set of 6 teaspoons and matching sugar tongs in the Rose pattern, which is a rare pattern that is not often seen. The pattern has trailing roses, the detail is lovely. The spoons are single struck (pattern is only on the front), and the spoons are bottom marked (hallmarks near the spoon bowls). All 7 items are clearly hallmarked, 3 are 1901 and have makers mark TS/WS/HH (Hollard, Aldwinckle & Slater, this mark used 1894-1901) 4 are 1903 with HA&S mark (also Hollard, Aldwinckle & Slater, this mark used 1902-1906), we are not sure what caused the date gap but the spoons are identical, by the same maker. so must have been kept in stock. The 4 1903 spoons have an additional P hallmark, perhaps the journeyman who made the spoons. Hollard. Aldwinckle & Slater were an important firm, they worked between 1838 and 1922, they took over the leading firm of G.W. Adams (the old Chawner & Co.) in 1883, which included all the spoon dies - hence there production of Rose pattern. Ian Pickford, in his book Silver Fl...
A fine and heavy cast silver commemorative caddy spoon made to celebrate the investiture of the Prince of Wales in 1969. The caddy spoon bowl is made up of the 3 Prince of Wales feathers, joined to the handle with a Royal crown and the motto "ICH DIEN", translated "I Serve", the handle has a Welsh dragon. The bowl is quite deep, the feathers have been shaped, the detail of the feathers is also very fine. The spoon is fully hallmarked with clear hallmarks, including makers mark G&Co Ld. for Garrards, the Crown Jewellers (founded in 1722, it retained the Royal Warrant until 2007). The back of the caddy spoon is also marked "Garrard & Co Ltd 112 Regent St W". Another example of this caddy spoon is shown in the book "The Story of the Caddy Spoon 1775-2015" produced by the Society of Caddy Spoon Collectors, page 63. It also was part of the John Norie Collection, Part II, lot 384.
An interesting 17th century style silver notched 2 pronged fork and matching spoon, the fork a replica of the earliest known English table fork. Both are faithful replicas of the puritan style, with 3 notches at the top of the flat stem. Both carry 2 family crests, the top a griffiths head and wings, the Montagu family crest, the second is a peacock in pride, the crest of John Manners, 8th Earl of Rutland of Haddon Hall, the owner of the original fork. This fork, made in 1632, is known as the Manners Fork, and is in the V&A museum in London. Frances Montagu was the wife of John Manners. The hallmarks are exceptionally well struck, they could not be better. They include makers mark "GOF Lo under star" for George Lowe & Son of Bridge Street, Chester, who date back to 1770 and who still trade today. They also include the Chester wheat sheaf town mark (struck in the spoon bowl as is usual for 17th century spoons), date letter and lion passant. The original box, marked "Lowe & Sons, Silversmiths, Bridge St Row, Ch...
Rare set of 3 Old English tablespoons made in Carlisle, with Newcastle hallmarks, which are very clear. These spoons all have the same engraved initial B as the 4 tablespoons with the incuse duty mark (item S 1184). John Brown worked between 1822 and 1826, he was an ironmonger and jeweller of English Street, Carlisle, who made a variety of small silverware.
A set of three sterling silver tablespoons in the popular Fiddle, Thread and Shell pattern, with engraved Marais Family coat of arms, which is very clear. The spoons are a substantial size and weight, 105 grammes each, the quality is excellent (tablespoons over 100 grammes are rare). The hallmarks are very clear, including makers mark D&J W, for Daniel & John Wellby, who worked between 1827 and 1974 from Garrick Street, London. The Marais family coat of arms is described as "Azure, a chain sable fesswise, in chief a crescent reversed and a base of two hills vert" - Pama, Heraldry of South African Families, page 53, depicted on Plate 18, no 280, of the Bell Krynauw Collection. It dates back to Charles Marais of the farm Plasir de Merle, who arrived in the Cape in 1688, and was "murdered by a Hottentot on the farm in 1689". Note - we have other matching items with the Marais Family armorial.
A matching antique sterling silver knife, fork and spoon, made as a Christening present. They are dessert size, and in an unusual scrolling pattern, possibly an Onslow pattern variant. This scrolling pattern reminds us of the Auricular style, a 17th century German Mannerism style, rarely seen today. The knife has a pistol grip, the blade is also hallmarked sterling silver. They are gilded with a rich golden colour, this gilding is original. All 3 items are clearly hallmarked, the knife handle has an additional FH makers mark for Francis Higgins, so the knife handle was outsourced. F.B. Thomas & Co. was a well known firm of retail silversmiths, established in 1759. Francis Boone Thomas joined the firm aged 21 in 1851, he took control in 1871, he died age 71 in 1900. The firm traded until 1941 when it was severely damaged in an air raid during World War II.
A set of 6 Prussian silver teaspoons, made in Danzig, now Gdansk, Poland. The spoons are a lovely shape, with long elegant pointed terminals and elongated bowls, more similar to grapefruit or fruit spoons, or lemoen lepels in Dutch. The spoons have bright cut engraving, designed to reflect in candle light, and cartouche for initials. The original owners prick engraved initials G.V. J are very faintly visible. The spoons have 3 hallmarks, most marks are clear, some partially obscured. They include Danzig town mark (2 maltese crosses below crown) in irregular shield, used between 1790 and 1799, makers mark JGS in script, and a large cursive E, we believe this is the assay master mark rather than a date letter, all suggestions welcome. We have identified a Danzig silversmith Johannes Gottlieb Stegmann whose makers mark was JGS, he worked between 1772 and 1804, but his published mark (www.agraart.pl/silver), is different, not the script style as here, so it is possible we have mis-identified the silversmith, all...
Two early Georgian silver Hanoverian tablespoons, engraved with the Davy family crest. The spoons both have a strong front rib and double drop, both features of early Hanoverians. Both are clearly engraved with original armorials for the Davy family of Beckley, Sussex, on the back of the spoons (spoons were displayed bowl down during this period). The crest is described as "sable a fess or between three cinquefoils argent, the lozenge is tied at the top with a lovers knot that denotes the arms of a spinster", see heraldic report which accompanies these spoons. The spoons probably belonged to an unmarried daughter of the Davy family of Beckley, Sussex. The first spoon has clear hallmarks, including WH makers mark for William Hunter, and date letter i for 1744. The second spoon has squashed marks, but the makers mark JL for Jeremiah Lee is clear.