An interesting and beautiful sterling silver small cup, this is a Greek museum replica of the Vapheio Cup, from the Mycenaean period, showing Minoan Bull Leapers (very detailed) being gored by bulls, and a bull captured in a net. The mug shaped cup has a spool handle, securely fastened with 3 pins. The original pair of 2 gold cups have 2 different designs, this design is known as the "Violent Cup", as bulls are stampeded into nets, one escapes, shoving a catcher aside. They are known as "the most perfect works of Mycenean or Minoan Art to have survived" - source Wikipedia. The base is clearly hallmarked "Hand made 925", and the handle is marked "Made in Greece 925". A copy of this cup appeared in the 'Game of Thrones" series, with Tyrion Lannister using it to drink wine. Replicas of Vapheio cups can be found by a variety of Greek, German and English makers. many are brass or silver plate, some are sterling silver, and different sizes exist.

A pair of Dutch silver Hanoverian pattern tableforks, made in Rotterdam in 1781 by Rudolph Sondag, 'the most famous silversmith in Rotterdam, his work towered above the Rotterdam silver landscape" - source (Schadee, Zilverschatten, Drie Eeuwen Rotterdams Zilver). The forks are clearly hand made, and differ in weight - one is 82 grams, the other 77 grams. The forks have 4 tines, and are bottom marked with 4 clearly struck hallmarks - date letter Y for 1781 with a distinctive dot above one arm, Rotterdam town mark (slight wear at bottom), crowned rampant lion standard mark (934 grade so purer than sterling) and makers mark of sunburst sun in shield punch. Rudolph Sondag's makers mark usually has a face in the sun centre, this is worn on these forks. Sondag worked form 1746 until his death in 1812, he was highly productive and has left behind some magnificent silver, well represented in Rotterdam's Museum Boijmans van Beuningen. Aardewerk notes varied quality in the work he produced, and postulates he guarantee...

A rare pair of ornate cast silver sugar tongs, made in London 1823 by Edward Farrell, who was one of the most celebrated silversmiths of the early 19th century, and whose work is now found in museums all over the world. The tongs feature a well modelled cherub, naked except for a loincloth, holding an arrow above his head and a bow in his other hand, the cherub is 5 cm tall. We have considered if it could be Cupid, but no wings are present. The cherub is surrounded by flowers, foliage and scrolls, and the tongs have shell bowls. The cherub is repeated on both arms. The bow has a blank cartouche. The tongs are clearly hallmarked on both bowls, London 1823 on one bowl and makers mark E.F in shaped punch (Grimwade 585). Grimwade (page 506) describes Farrell silver as "some of the most unusual productions of the Regency period, generally conceived in a kind of revival rococo style. He had a large output of heavy tea services decorated with Dutch peasant scenes in the style of Teniers, and he also produced large ...

A pair of Fiddle pattern Cape Silver teaspoons, with very clear Cape silver pseudo hallmarks. The spoons have no engraving. The hallmarks include maker mark JJV in script, in an unusual 6 sided punch, between pseudo lion passant and pseudo duty mark, this is Queen Victoria, complete with hair bun. Jacobus Johannes Vos was born in 1834, the son of silversmith Willem Vos, he worked between 1854 and 1861, when he died early age 27, still unmarried. He was clearly a talented silversmith as he left behind good quality silver. Note - We have a matching teaspoon S 11570.

An interesting WWI military silver vesta case, engraved "Northern Command Bombing School August 1916". The vesta case is the traditional curved rectangle shape, with a striker on the base, and a ring on the side for attachment to a fob chain. The vesta is clearly hallmarked for Chester 1915, with makers mark S.I.L.d for Stokes & Ireland, who worked between 1891 and 1932 in Birmingham, they also used the Chester assay office. The vesta is also stamped "Pearce & Sons Leeds", Pearces Jewellers still exists today, after being founded in 1838. Northern Command was a British Army Home Command, based in York during World War I, the bombing school was a Grenade School (not RFC as has been incorrectly described in the internet), with a focus on using grenades to attack and clear trench systems. Those that successfully completed the training wore a red grenade proficiency badge on their upper right arm. We have seen other examples of Northern Command Bombing School silver vesta cases, that also have an engraved grenade...

A pair of Georgian silver salad servers, made by a rarely encountered silversmith Henry Day, who only worked for a few years prior to being sentenced to death for counterfeiting, after which his sentence was reprieved and changed to "transportation for a period of 7 years". The servers are Fiddle pattern, the spoon has a pear shaped bowl, the fork a more rounded bowl with 5 tines cut into the bowl end. Both are engraved with a family crest of a Lion Rampant, this is finely engraved and very clear. Both are clearly hallmarked for London 1821 with makers mark H.D, (Grimwade 981) both also have a Journeyman's mark (one a cross, one 2 dots). On careful examination of the hallmarks we believe these to be genuine. Henry Day was freed in 1817, he first worked for his father, this mark was registered in 1820. An interesting article by Trevor Downes entitled "An example of the Counterfeiters' Art, The work of Henry Day" was published in the Finial (March 2011, page 6), explains that Day's workshop was raided by the Go...

A rare antique silver desk stamp case shaped as an envelope, what makes this case interesting is that it is mounted on a base, for use on a desk. The stamp case envelope is the usual form, with hinged flap with pin for closure, it is mounted at an angle on the circular baluster base, which is weighted with the addition of plaster of paris in the base (we assume it would have originally had a felt base which is now missing). The base is fully hallmarked, the date letter and makers mark "A&LLd" is worn but still legible enough to be certain of the maker. The envelope lid is also hallmarked, with a clear date letter i for 1908. Silver envelope shaped stamp cases must have been popular as many varied examples have survived, but this is the only example we have seen of one mounted on a desk stand. Adie & Lovekin was founded in 1879, they produced a wide variety of silver novelties.

A fabulous parcel gilt hand forged sauce ladle in the rare Circle pattern, designed by Stuart Devlin, one of the greatest post war 20th Century British silversmiths, included in the top 50 in the book "Designed British Silver 1930-1985' by John Andrew & Derek Styles (a book we highly recommend). The ladle has a curved, tapered handle, with a cross cut textured face, with applied simulated filigree circular motif at the top of the handle, the whole front of the handle with beautiful gilding. The bowl is circular, and quite thick, the quality is outstanding, as you would expect from a hand forged spoon. the ladle is clearly hallmarked with makers mark SD, London marks for 1977, and the optional silver Jubilee mark, only used in 1977 to celebrate the Queen's 25th year on the throne. The ladle is also numbered 71, perhaps a pattern or customer number. The Circle pattern is rare, it is not included in the list of 10 Devlin patterns in the book "Silver Flatware" by Ian Pickford, pages 163-167, Pickford describes D...

A Fiddle pattern Cape Silver teaspoon, with very clear Cape silver pseudo hallmarks. The spoon have no engraving. The hallmarks include maker mark JJV in script, in an unusual 6 sided punch, between pseudo lion passant and pseudo duty mark, this is Queen Victoria, complete with hair bun. Jacobus Johannes Vos was born in 1834, the son of silversmith Willem Vos, he worked between 1854 and 1861, when he died early age 27, still unmarried. He was clearly a talented silversmith as he left behind good quality silver. Note - We have a matching pair of teaspoons S 11569.

An antique silver travelling inkwell, presented as a memento during the Anglo Boer War by Major General Arthur Sandbach. The inkwell is engraved "A memento of the F.I.D. Natal Army, From A.E. Sandbach 1900", the engraving is crisp and clear. The inkwell is cylindrical, with a bayonet fitted screw top domed lid, and patented anti-spill glass inkwell, which has an ingenious spout shaped interior. The inkwell is superbly designed and the quality is excellent, as you would expect from Sampson Mordan. The inkwell has been well used, and has numerous small dents (around 8 separate dents), the largest is 1 cm long. The base is clearly hallmarked for Chester 1899, alongside makers mark "S.M & Co Ld" in shaped shield, alongside "17". The interior is gilded, and is stained with remnants of old ink. The inkwell would have originally had a spring loaded cork insert in the lid, to keep a tight seal, this is missing. A similar inkwell by Mordan can be seen on the Steppes Hill website, item 165702, also missing the cork and...

A rare and beautiful Arts & Crafts cast silver caddy spoon by Bernard Instone, featuring 2 Great Crested Grebes in a courting ritual. The caddy spoon has a circular planished (hand hammered) bowl, the handle is pierced and engraved to produce the birds embracing along their beaks. This caddy spoon has been previously described as depicting 2 stylized storks, but we are confident it represents the elaborate mating ritual of the Greater Crested Grebe, as confirmed by the KSIA (Keswick School of Industrial Arts) website. The spoon has excellent hallmarks, including makers mark B.I in oval punch for Bernard Instone. Instone (1891-1987) registered his mark in 1922, he studied under Arthur Gaskin and worked for John Paul Cooper. He established Langstone Silver Works in Digbeth, Birmingham in 1919, after 4 years service in the Great War. He was subcontracted to produce silver for Sibyl Dunlop (with her SD makers mark), and also produced silver for Liberty's (source Simon Moore Artists Spoons, page 411). Bernard Inst...

A rare Cape silver dessert spoon in the Kings pattern, made by Lawrence Twentyman. The spoon is excellent quality, as is usual for Cape silver Kings pattern, and has a very pleasing weight. The Kings pattern is double struck (on both sides), and this spoon has not been engraved. The spoon has 5 clear hallmarks, makers mark LT and 4 pseudo hallmarks, all individually struck. They include pseudo lion passant, Georgian duty mark, date letter a and crowned leopards head town mark, this is mark 135 in the book Cape Silver by Stephan Welz. Cape silver Kings pattern was only made by 2 silversmiths in the Cape, Twentyman and Fredrik Waldek, who took over Twentymans' workshops when he left the Cape for India.

A Sampson Mordan silver scent bottle, beautifully engraved with Kate Greenaway images, a girl pulling a smaller girl in a wheeled cart, and another capped girl walking towards a gate, all in front of a brick wall, with a church with spire in the background. The bottle is clearly hallmarked on both the base and the lid. The glass bottle inside is loose and can be removed, it fits exactly into the hole, so we are not sure if it is original or a later replacement. Kate Greenaway was a Victorian artist and writer, her 1879 book "Under the Window" a collection of simple, perfectly idyllic verses about children, was a bestseller. "Kate Greenaway" children, all of them girls and boys too young to be put in trousers, were dressed in her own versions of late 18th century and Regency fashions: smock-frocks and skeleton suits for boys, high-waisted pinafores and dresses with mobcaps and straw bonnets for girls - source Wikipedia. Sampson Mordan became famous for producing high quality, innovative novelty items, many of ...

A Scottish Provincial Tablespoon in the Fiddle pattern, made by Charles Jamieson of Inverness. The spoon has original owners initials FML engraved in script. The spoon has 3 clear hallmarks, makers mark CJ, town mark INS for Inverness, and J mark struck sideways, this is mark IN16 in the book "Scottish Provincial Silversmiths & their Marks by Richard Turner, page 67. Please note the solder marks that denote an old repair to this spoon, only really visible under magnification.

Three sterling silver napkin rings, shooting trophies for the Natal Rifle Association. The first is engraved "The Emma Thresh Trophy, 1929", the second "Murray-Smith Memorial, 1925, 2st Team", and the third "Royston Memorial 1st Team 1928", all three have an applied cast shield "Natal Rifle Association, Semper Paratus, 1862". The hallmarks are clear on all 3 napkin rings, makers mark F.H.A.& Co, for FH Adam and company of Birmingham, this mark was used 1919-1935. The Emma Thresh Trophy itself belongs to the Natal Carbineers, South Africa's senior regiment. The trophy itself is 16 kilograms of silver, and was donated in 1903 by Emma Thresh, as the shooting trophy for Colonial Forces. Lieutenant-Colonel William Murray-Smith of the Natal Mounted Rifles saw distinguished service in both the Boer War and Great war, he was awarded the Companion of the Distinguished Order and Croix de Guerre. He was an excellent shot, and won the Clark Kennedy Challenge Cup at Bisley during Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, he als...

A Scottish Provincial silver Toddy ladle in the Oar pattern, which is a scarce variant of Fiddle pattern (Fiddle without shoulders), only found in Scotland (Pickford, Silver Flatware, pg. 111). The ladle was made by Peter Lambert in Aberdeen, and is engraved with original owners initials RMR in script. The ladle has 3 hallmarks, makers mark PL between 2 thistles, these marks are well struck but blurred, so we assume the punches were worn. The thistle punch has a noticeable indent on the left hand side. Peter Lambert was born in Aberdeen, as was admitted to the Hammermen in 1804. He left Aberdeen in 1813, and subsequently moved from town to town looking for work, he is known to have worked in Dundee, Montrose and Berwick, and had spoons assayed in Newcastle and Edinburgh (Aberdeen Silver by Michael Wilson, page 60, a book we highly recommend).

An interesting Georgian silver wine label, engraved for PORT, with counterfeit hallmarks for London 1814, made by Thomas Robinson, who was convicted for selling counterfeit items in 1822 and transported to Australia in 1823, never to return. The label is rounded rectangular form, with a hob-nail cut border, a domed surmount which is engraved with a leaf and scrolls, incised for PORT. The label has 4 hallmarks, a very blurred duty mark, a slightly blurred lion passant, a very clear date letter T and a partial makers mark TR in oval punch, the T is clear but only the top of the R is visible. Two very similar labels, but engraved for Noyeau and Shrub, are depicted in the article "Mr Robinson's conviction for counterfeit marks", by Bruce Jones, Silver Society Journal 23, 2008, pages 107-110. This fascinating article shows 4 wine labels by Robinson, and compares genuine hallmarks of the period with those used by Robinson, leaving no doubt they are counterfeit. The article shows the same counterfeit date letter T h...

A delightful antique silver swing handled basket with pierced sides, notable for it's very small size, hence our description as miniature. The basket is rectangular, with the 2 long sides curved, so the ends of the basket are higher than the centre. The 4 sides are beautifully pierced and engraved, with scrolls, foliage and flowers, this is a very decorative basket. The swing handle is also decorated, with 7 pierced ovals across the top. The basket is clearly hallmarked, with hallmarks hidden in the decoration, the makers mark is partially blurred, but the heart shaped punch with faint WB over clear Ld is sufficient to confirm the maker as Williams Ltd, who worked between 1902 and 1929. The handle is also hallmarked, and the base is stamped with a registration mark Rd 528841, which shows the design was protected. This basket is too large to be a true toy miniature, but is smaller than a bon - bon basket, it would be suitable for jewelry on a dressing table, or for small sweets.

An interesting antique silver caddy spoon with a camel finial, this is the crest of the Worshipful Company of Grocers, a spice laden camel. The spoon has a pear shaped bowl, the well modelled camel is facing left, to show it is bringing spices from the East. The hallmarks are clear, including makers mark J.N.M for John Newton Mappin, this mark was used between 1887-1897. The spoon is also stamped "Mappin & Webb, London", this is above a cross in circle hallmark, we are not sure the significance of this mark (all assistance welcome). The Worshipful Company of Grocers Company is one of the 12 Great Livery Companies, ranked second in precedence (it was once ranked first, until rumour has it that a camel in a procession released a smell that offended Queen Elizabeth I!) - source Worshipful Company of Grocers website, www.grocershall.co.uk). The Company was founded in 1345 by the Guild of Pepperers, responsible for maintaining spice standards. The 4th Grocers Hall was built in 1890 (unfortunately destroyed by fire...

An early Georgian silver porringer, of generous size, with an engraved family crest of a "Portcullis Chained", for the Porter and Beaufort Somerset families. The porringer is the traditional shape, with a bulbous bowl shape (later examples became straight sided), with plain scroll handles with a thumb piece for improved grip. The porringer is decorated with curved lobes and flutes on the lower body, and has a scale and acanthus cartouche, with the engraved portcullis. A very similar porringer can be seen in the book "Price Guide to Antique Silver" by Peter Waldron, figure 529, page 170, who describes it as a popular design in the times of William & Mary to Queen Anne (1689-1713). The base has 4 hallmarks, lion passant which is clear, crowned leopard's head with slight wear, date letter C with slight wear for 1738, and makers mark BW in oval punch for Benjamin West, who was freed in 1733 and worked until 1750, although he only used this particular punch 1737-1738. The portcullis chained crest appears in Fairb...