An antique silver mechanical cheese scoop, made in Berlin, Germany by leading retailers Haller & Rathenau, who were Court Jewellers to both the King of Prussia and Prince Friedrich of the Netherlands. The scoop is intended for soft cheeses, usually stilton, and in addition to its shovel shaped blade it has a mechanical sliding mechanism to eject the cheese off the scoop onto a plate. The slider is oval, matching the shape of the shovel with an overhang, it is held in place securely by 2 silver screws, and has a thumbpiece to operate the mechanism. The handle (which is hollow) is decorated with a twisted rope design, and is engraved with original owners initials H, with the same twisted rope design. The scoop is clearly hallmarked with makers mark "Haller & Rathenau", alongside the mark of the Berlin primary assayer (standing bear and letter L), this mark was used 1854-1863. The scoop also has a Gothic D hallmark for the secondary Warden (L. Th. Wendelboe), who worked between 1854 and 1864. In addition, both t...

An interesting set of 3 antique sterling silver serving implements, in the rare Venetian/Italian pattern. They consist of a fabulous quality stilton cheese scoop (81 grammes), and matching pickle fork and butter spreader, all beautifully preserved in original felt and silk lined case. The pattern is very intricate, and is repeated on both sides, at first glance it is similar to Elizabethan pattern, both are Renaissance and Baroque in style. Unlike Elizabethan this pattern has a circular cartouche, repeated on both sides, this has not been engraved. Venetian/Italian pattern was registered in 1868, most pieces are by Martin Hall&Co, this is a scarce pattern (Pickford, Silver Flatware, page 94). Pickford aslo describes a subtle difference between Venetian and Italian (this is difficult to see without a photo of both). The box reads "Mappin & Webb, Manufacturing Goldsmiths & Silversmiths, London, Sheffield & Johannesburg". The hallmarks are clear on all 3 items. We love this set, a delight to hold and use.

A fabulous pair of Canova pattern dessert spoon and fork, which was produced by Chawner & Co. for the Great Exhibition of 1851. They are both fabulous quality and in excellent condition, with some very light wear to the gilding. The set was designed as a tribute to the Italian sculptor Antonio Canova, regarded as one of the greatest Neoclassical sculptors. They feature Canova's "Dancer with Finger on Chin", the original is now in the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., but was originally purchased in 1823 from the artist by Charles Stewart (later Vane), 3rd Marquess of Londonderry, when he was based in Vienna as Ambassador to Austria. On the back of the bowls they feature "Sappho with Lyre", the detail on both is very appealing, supplemented with other features (masks, 2 putti with flowers above the dancer, and bird with fruit in its mouth, and a bearded figure), The Sappho figure is surrounded by architectural features, scrolls, shells and foliage, the detail is amazing. Both spoon and fork are clea...