Aide memoire with 2 pierced silver covers, with a rose amongst scrolling foliage, and rope border. The silver protects 2 tortoiseshell covers, which in turn cover the ivory pages. Both silver covers are fully hallmarked, as is the clasp. The original owners shopping list is still visible in pencil. This miniature notebook would have hung from a chatelaine. Oldridge was the sole partner of Grey and Co of Great Portland Street. The firm was noted for its novelties, and supplied many leading retailers, including Asprey & Co.
A lovely porringer in the style of Charles II. Spot hammered, embossed with acanthus leaves and scroll handles with dolphin head. This porringer is very good quality, amongst the best we have seen. George Fox was a member of the well known Fox family of silversmiths, who supplied some of the leading silver retailers of the day. They are particularly well known for their fine copies of earlier styles (as is this piece). Britannia silver is higher grade than sterling silver, being 950/1000, as opposed to sterling's 925/1000.
Melon shaped teaservice of extremely good gauge, consisting of teapot, creamer and sugarbowl, with gilt interior. The design is beautiful, and has angular engraving. This set is extremely well made, with fantastic attention to detail - the teapot hinge is an example of this (see photo). All 3 pieces are fully hallmarked with clear hallmarks, including the teapot lid. A truly beautiful tea service by very fine makers.
Scottish Fiddle pattern table forks, appear unused, with tines in excellent condition. Very clear hallmarks.
Pleasant set of Scottish Fiddle pattern tablespoons, of very good weight and by a well known maker. Extremely clear hallmarks on all spoons.
A silver "two-cigar" case, with Boer War inscription "Dr Kellner, from a Grateful "Australian" Patient, Bloemfontein, 1900". The Australian is in inverted comma's. The case is well made, good quality and gauge, and quite solid. The interior is gilded, and the hallmarks are clear on both sides of the case. H. Matthews was a large and well known Birmingham firm. Bloemfontein was the capital of the Orange Free State, and was surrendered to the British on 13 March 1900. Thirty thousand British troops entered Bloemfontein, and thanks to poor sanitation a typhoid epidemic broke out, which caused hundreds if not thousands of deaths. Doctors (who included Sir Arthur Conan Doyle) were in short supply, with 3 doctors per 350 patients (Pakenham, The Boer War, pg 382) - which no doubt led to the generosity of our unnamed "Australian". Today Bloemfontein hospital is on Kellner Street, we are not sure if there is a connection.
A truly stunning Nathaniel Mills gilt vinaigrette, slightly larger than average. The box is gilt with scrolling foliate decoration, and has the initials JL engraved on the lid. The grille is beautiful, with intricate flowers and scrolling vegetation. The inscription is engraved on an inserted plate (which covers the date stamp) and reads "Presented to Dr Lamprey as a token of gratitude for his kind and unremitting attention to the Rev.d Dr Fraill during his last illness 21 April 1847".
A lovely Victorian silver Christening spoon of very good quality in original leather case, reproducing the earlier 17th century Dognose pattern (as was popular in late Victorian times). The hallmarks are clear, including journeymans mark (the journeyman was the silversmith who made the spoon in the George Adams' workshop). George Adams was highly regarded, and was the leading spoonmaker of Victorian England
Realistically modelled cast silver shell, with 4 shell spikes used as feet. It has lovely detail, and is very good quality. The only hallmark present is 800. having never seen one of these before, we are not sure of its origin or use, perhaps it is a salt.
A collectable silver Castle-Top card case, depicting the Royal Exchange in high relief, by the famous Nathaniel Mills. This castle-top is very fine quality, the relief design stands out 1 cm from the case, and the detail is superb.The case is finely chased with flowers, leaves and C scrolls, and the rear cartouche is monogrammed MRI. The cartouche is a old replacement - a new cartouche has been cut out and added, to accommodate the initials of a new owner. This has been well done and does not detract. The Royal Exchange is situated in London next to the Bank of England. It was opened for trading by Queen Victoria in 1845, this case was probably made to commemorate the opening. The Royal Exchange still exists today, but is now a luxury shopping centre. The hallmarks and makers marks are clear
Lovely Nathaniel Mills cigar case with a beautifully engraved hunting scene, a dog chasing two grouse. The entire case is engraved with scrolls, and the cartouche is engraved "Carole". Hallmarks on the lid and base are very clear.
A Boer War teaspoon, with a very detailed Lee-Metford rifle as the shaft. The bowl is engraved "Souvenir of the Anglo-Boer War, 1899-1900". The rifle is very detailed, even the strap holes and buckle are visible.The butt of the rifle is engraved Lee-Metford, and the bayonet connects the bowl to the rifle. The hallmarks are very clear, as is the registration number "Rd No 349937". A similar spoon is illustrated in the book "Boer War Memorabilia" by Pieter Oosthuizen, figure 8 on page 119. The Lee-Metford rifle was soon replaced by the Lee-Enfield, which had the advantage of smokeless powder.
Silver pierced vine leaf sherry label, made by the highly regarded Rawlings and Summers. The hallmarks, which are small but very clear, are on the front of the label. The chain appears original.
Exquisite set of six cast teaspoons, in original box, with Medusa head and snake finial. The detail is excellent, these spoons are extremely high quality. The box has a retailers name - H Greaves, Hew & Corporation St, Birmingham. The hallmarks are clear, 3 spoons are dated 1900, 1 is 1901, 2 are 1902, but they are clearly a set. The spoons are a very good gauge, and are pleasing to hold. Wakely and Wheeler (James and Frank), which still exists today, has long been a highly regarded firm. It was originally founded by John Lias in 1791.
9 carat gold, beautifully cast and chased in the form of a clam shell. Beautiful hinge.
Delightful heart shaped vesta case in excellent condition, with engraved initials FVB. The hallmarks are very clear, the lid is also hallmarked. This case has a nice feel in the hand. Vesta cases (called matchsafes in USA) were used to carry wax vesta matches (predate safety matches), they were struck on the serrated edge of the case.
Plain but pleasing Nathaniel Mills snuffbox, with gilt interior and an attractive crest. The crest, which is slightly worn, has a scalloped cartouche containing a griffin, encased by scrolling palms.
A typically Victorian silver Christening set, consisting of a dessert sized spoon, knife and fork, with a very ornate pattern. The pattern consists of a standing "putti" with arm raised, supporting a blank shield (meant for the recipients initials). The shield is surmounted with a crown, and as can be seen other decoration includes flowers, leaves and scrolling foliage. The pattern is repeated on both sides, on the front the putti is a boy, and the rear of the fork and spoon the putti is a girl with long hair. The set is very good quality, and is still in it's original leather and brass bound box, with blue velvet and silk lining. The hallmarks on all 3 pieces are clear, both the knife blade and hilt are hallmarked - indicating the blade is also sterling silver. The Martin Hall & Co (Richard Martin and Ebernezer Hall) first entered their mark in 1863, so this would have been one of the earliest items they produced. They used this mark until 1878, and remained in business until 1911. They worked from Shrewsbur...
A Tiffany sterling silver Olympian pattern sugar tongs, of very good quality, and with no monograms. Olympian pattern depicts various different scenes from Greek mythology, and has been described as the most elaborate and complex of all Tiffany flatware patterns. This scene shows Pan with 4 nymphs or satyrs, with horns and goat leg hindquarters, one nymph with erect phallus (which must be pretty unique on a flatware pattern!), demonstrating Pan's status as fertility God. Ther tongs are hallmarked "M Tiffany & Co Sterling PAT 1878". The M indicates a date between 1875 and 1891. Note - We have now identified this motif in Olympian as "Satyrs receiving instruction", no 17 of 17 different motif's in this pattern, as described in the original catalog. the instructions come from Sylvanus, a rural deity (Tiffany Silver Flatware 1845-1905, page 215) - a book we highly recommend.
An exceptionally large Danish serving spoon, the largest we have ever seen. The spoon is Fiddle and Thread pattern, and has an hourglass shape. An attractive stylised design is engraved on the back of the handle. The hallmarks are clear, being the Danish Copenhagen towers with 89 underneath (indicating 1889), the makers mark ROST and the assaymasters mark (SG entwined) for S. Groth, who was in office from 1863-1904. This is a good solid spoon, ideal for regular use, especially if you are feeding an army!
