A pair of Irish Provincial silver teaspoons, in the Fiddle pattern, with STERLING hallmarks. The spoons have original owners initials SL, small and engraved by hand, very provincial in nature. Both spoons are clearly hallmarked "STERLING", well struck and clear, but the punch a little worn, and the letters quite crude and blurry - so a home made punch. This mark was used by Silversmiths in both Cork and Limerick, more research on the style of the punch is required.

A set of 6 Old English pattern Cape silver tablespoons, made by Johannes Combrink. All 6 spoons have engraved owners initials G, we assume the original owner. This set has been made by hand, there are slight differences in length, also differences in the shape of the handle, with some having narrower ends. One spoon also has a noticeably larger bowl than the other 5, so perhaps made at a different time. The drop on 2 spoons is also slightly longer, overall interesting but subtle differences between the spoons. The hallmarks also exhibit differences, three spoons are struck with makers mark IC three times, the other three are struck with makers mark IC four times (similar to the English duty dodgers). The orientation of the marks also differs, some are struck vertically and some sideways, so it appears the silversmith struck marks quite randomly. This mark is 29 or mark 30 in the book Cape Silver by Welz, the C is quite close the the I, and has short arms, almost looks like a K. The slightly larger spoon, whic...

A rare Irish provincial sterling silver teaspoon made by Isaac Solomon of Cork, with excellent hallmarks. The teaspoon is Fiddle pattern, the bowl is elongated with a strong tip, more European than English in style. The spoon is engraved with original owners initials II. The hallmarks are excellent, "I.SOLOMON" and "STERLING" in serrated punch, these are well struck, but the sterling punch shows sign of wear. Solomon was born around 1775 and died in 1845, he worked from Patrick's Street, Cork. A number of items with makers mark IS have also been ascribed to Solomon, it is probable that these should be ascribed to John Seymour, and not Solomon. Solomon was a jeweller and silversmith, his working dates beyond 1810 are not known.

A lovely pair of Cape silver teaspoons in the Fiddle pattern, in excellent condition and with very clear hallmarks. The spoons are clearly hand made, you can see very slight differences in the shape and size of the Fiddle and bowl shape when comparing closely. The spoons are good quality and a good weight. The spoons have no engraving with no initials removed, completely original. Both spoons are clearly hallmarked with 4 pseudo hallmarks, all struck individually in the same order - pseudo duty mark, bird, pseudo Edinburgh Castle town mark and pseudo date letter B. This is mark 134 in the book "Cape Silver and Silversmiths" by Stephan Welz, without makers mark - but clearly Twentyman as he was the only Cape silversmith who used these punches. Twentyman was the most prolific of all Cape silversmiths, he had the first shop on Heerengracht (now Adderley Street) with a shop window. He worked between 1818 and 1837. We really like these spoons. Note - we have a matching set of 6 , S 11196.

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 lovely set of 12 rat-tail trefid silver teaspoons and matching sugartongs, also with rat-tail, well preserved in original box. This set is antique, being over 100 years old, but was made as a replica of an earlier style (circa 1680). In late Victorian and Edwardian times good quality replicas of earlier styles were popular, this set is also very good quality, and is suitable for use. The hallmarks on all 13 pieces are excellent. James Dixon & Sons is a well known firm, first established in 1806 and still in business today.They employed over 600 people during Victorian times (Culme, Directory of Gold & Silversmiths).

A "New Nautilus" novelty silver sugar sifter, complete with patent and registration number. The bowl of the sifter is a nautilus shell, the top edge of the shell has 28 pierced leaf shaped sifter holes, the shell is realistically modeled. The handle is joined to the shell at right angles, to allow ease of use during sifting. The handle has an interesting unknown pattern, not found in the book " Silver Flatware" by Pickford, it appears to be a variant of Albert pattern, and is single struck. The hallmarks are clear, the handle also has a registration number indicating the design was registered. The shell has a patent number, PAT 17124, so this design was patented as well, quite unusual for silver flatware. The nautilus is a living fossil, dating back 500 million years, it is a cephalopod named after Sailor in Greek. Nautilus shell cups decorated in silver and gold became popular in the 16th century, the nautilus became popular again in Victorian times, first as spoon warmers, this sifter design is late Victori...

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...

An Irish Provincial toddy ladle in the Fiddle pattern, with original owners engraved initial H. The ladle has an old and crudely done repair to the bowl, a circular piece has been let in, the solder marks clearly visible, approximately 1.5 cm in diameter. These toddy ladles are usually Scottish in origin, but Irish examples are known, one is illustrated in the book "Celebration of Limerick Silver, page 132. The ladle is clearly hallmarked "STERLING" in rectangular punch with rounded corners, the letters irregular, so clearly a provincial "home made" punch. No makers mark is present. This sterling hallmark was used by Irish provincial makers, Cork but also Limerick, to denote the standard, these are rare items today. Given the repair we cannot recommend this ladle for use, but hopefully it is of interest to a collector researching different variations of the Sterling marks.

An Irish Provincial silver Bright Cut Celtic Point tablespoon, made in Cork and hallmarked in Dublin in 1804. The spoon is quite large, over 23 cm, and has intricate bright cut engraving, the quality is excellent. The spoon has engraved family crest of a Boar's head, this too is beautifully engraved, and very crisp and clear. The hallmarks are clear, Dublin hallmarks for 1804, and JK in script makers mark for Joseph Kinselagh of Cork, he worked between 1802 and 1807, he may have been a descendant of earlier silversmith of same name, 1750-1783, perhaps the makers mark was passed down the family. More research is required on this maker.

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 set of 12 antique Norwegian silver tablespoons, made in Bergen, Norway by the Bors family of silversmiths. The spoons are in the Fiddle and Shell pattern, and are single struck. Six spoons were made in November 1854 in 13 Loth grade by T Bors, the other 6 six spoons were made in August 1856 in higher grade 13 & 1/3 grade by Bors. The first set are heavier (average 50 grammes), better quality spoons, these are in excellent condition, the second set are lighter (average 40 grammes) and are in poorer condition. The first set are engraved with owners initials NIM on the front, the second set are prick engraved on the back with inscription and date 1856. Stylistically both sets are very similar, so can be used as a set of 12. The hallmarks on all 12 spoons are excellent, and include (first 6) 54 for 1854, 11/m for November, T.Bors maker, 13LG for 13 loth grade, and seven cannon balls (town mark for Bergen). The second 6 have 56 for 1856, 8/m for August, Bors makers mark, 13 1/3 grade mark, and seven cannon balls...

A pair of full figural Indian sterling silver souvenir spoons, with bowls decorated with Mudlavia, Kramer, Indiana. The spoons are a good weight at 30 grammes each, and very pleasing quality, The detail on these spoons is excellent, the Indian is carrying a bow and tomahawk, his feathered headrest hangs to his waist. The bowls feature the Mudlavia Hotel in Kramer, Indiana, once again the detail is excellent (one spoon bowl is very clear, the second has some wear and is not as crisp). Both spoons are clearly hallmarked "Sterling", they also have a Dutch duty mark V in shaped shield, this mark was used 1906-1953 on imported silver, so at some stage these spoons were imported into the Netherlands. No makers mark is present. The Mudlavia Hotel was a spa built in 1890 by Harry Kramer to use the natural spring water, it drew visitors from around the world until it burnt down in 1920. Today the springs are owned by Perrier for use in their bottled water. The book "Collectable Souvenir Spoons" by Wayne Bednersh desc...

A mixed and interesting set of 6 Cape silver Old English pattern teaspoons, all made by members of the Lotter family of Cape silversmiths. It consists of 3 matched spoons by Gerhardus Lotter, 2 spoons by his cousin Carel David Lotter, and 1 spoon by his brother Willem Godfried Lotter. The 3 spoons by Gerhardus are marked by makers mark GL (Welz mark 68), one spoon by Carel has makers mark CDL (Welz mark 63), the other Carel spoon has CDL between 2 stars (Welz mark 64). The Willem spoon has WGL between 2 L shaped devices (Welz mark 94), all marks are clear. One Carel spoon has original engraved initials DJLR, the other 5 have no engraving. The spoons have very slight differences in style and length, but they are close enough to be used as a set.

An interesting set of 4 Cape silver Fiddle pattern tableforks, by Lodewyk Beck. They have no initials, although 1 fork has the remnants of an initial just visible. It appears 1 fork was made at a different time, as the hallmarks are struck differently from the other 3. The hallmarks include makers mark LB with 4 pseudo English hallmarks, including lion, duty mark, castle town mark and date letter a. What is interesting about the hallmarks is that they are all individually struck, with not too much care, both the sterling lion and the date letter have been struck upside down on one, it appears the order and orientation of hallmarks was not important to Cape silversmiths. The 4th fork, has the same hallmarks but struck further apart. Lodewyk Willem Christiaan Beck worked between 1847 and 1867, from Shortmarket street and Greenmarket Square.

A Cape silver salt spoon in the Fiddle pattern, with no engraving or gilding. The spoon has clear hallmarks, makers mark LT and 4 pseudo hallmarks (duty mark, date letter d, castle town mark and bird), this is mark 132 in Cape Silver by Welz, but with the individual marks struck in a different order.

A mixed set of 6 Irish silver tablespoons, all with excellent hallmarks. 3 spoons are Old English pattern (a matching pair by John Pittar, 1779, bottom marked, with worn shellbacks, and a spoon by Michael Keating, 1799), and 3 are Fiddle pattern (1805 by J.S, 1812 by Richard Sawyer and 1832 by Samuel Neville, this last spoon has a rat-tail. 3 spoons have engraved family crest, 2 spoons have engraved initials, and one spoon has not been engraved. All 6 spoons have well struck and clear Dublin hallmarks, and clear makers marks.

A set of 12 identical sterling silver golf trophy spoons, all with identical engraving of BIGC in Gothic script (or IBGC) for a golf club. The spoons are great quality, with cast handles featuring golf clubs and balls, the club handles are also textured. The spoons are all in excellent condition, they do not appear to have been used, and have no engraving on the bowls. They are contained in a box which looks like it was custom made for the set, with purple velvet. All 12 spoons have very clear hallmarks, 9 were made by Robert Chandler (dates 1907-1910), and 3 were made by William James Dingley (2 are 1912, one later at 1925). We assume these were trophy spoons, won over the years by a golfer, who decided to safeguard them with a custom made box.

A set of three Georg Jensen serving implements in the Old Danish # 100 pattern (Dobbelt Triflet) pattern, including serving spoon, gravy ladle and meat fork. The pattern has "undulating outlines and a pair of incised parallel lines, square bowls, the overall proportions are reminiscent of much earlier flatware designs, as the name Old Danish implies" Georg Jensen, A Tradition of Splendid Silver, page 269). The serving spoon is medium sized, the gravy ladle has a deep bowl, and the elegant meat fork has 2 tines. All 3 items are clearly hallmarked "Georg Jensen Sterling Denmark", the mark used after 1945. The Old Danish pattern was designed in 1947 by Harald Nielsen, the Artistic Director who took over from Jensen on his death, "his flatware designs Pyramid and Old Danish remain Jensen favorites (page 57 book above).

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...