A delightful silver Christening present, consisting of a boxed set containing child's spoon and pusher, decorated with a scene from the "This little piggy" nursery rhyme. The spoon bowl shows a pig complete with straw hat, in a donkey drawn cart, with trees, hills and birds in the background, along with inscription "This little pig went to market". The detail is lovely, as can be seen in the photos. Both handles are decorated with the same flower and scroll pattern. The hallmarks on both are very clear, and include a registration number "Rd No 348578", indicating the design was registered to prevent copying by other firms. Levi & Salaman was established in 1870, and was merged into Barker Brothers in 1921 (Culme, Directory Gold and Silversmiths). They were highly regarded, particularly for good quality souvenir spoons. An interesting story is that one of their spoons saved a soldiers life in WWI when it deflected a bullet, this spoon was viewed by the Queen at the British Industries Fair in 1915 (Culme).

A lovely silver belt buckle, decorated with a mother of pearl flower with purple, white and orange colours, which change colour as it catches the light. The buckle is also engraved with leaves and flowers in bright cut fashion. The buckle has Birmingham hallmarks, with makers or retailers mark "FHA Ld" overstriking other marks, including the date letter. FH Adams used this mark between 1908 and 1915, they worked from New John Street. Given the style of decoration and lovely mother of pearl work, it is possible the buckle is continental in origin, and received Birmingham marks after import into Britian.

A Boer War "sweetheart brooch" in 15 carat gold, so we assume the sweetheart was an officer. The brooch carries the badge of an Infantry Regiment, the 19th (County of London) Battalion, St Pancras. It is engraved "South Africa, 1899 - 1902". The gold has a reddish colour, whcih contrasts well with the red and blue enamel. It is lovely quality, even the clasp and pin are in 15 ct gold. Both the brooch and pin are stamped "15ct", these are the only hallmarks. 15 ct gold was only used in Britian between 1854 and 1932, when the 15 ct and 12 ct standards were replaced by 14 carat.

A Cape Colony National Rifle Association silver shooting trophy, the Inter Colonial Grand Challenge Shield. The shield is mounted on its original wooden stand, with brass hinge, it also has an additional silver plaque on the back that is engraved "The Grand Challenge Shield 1945". The shield has lovely detail, 6 flags divided by Kings crown, above a ribbon that reads "CAPE COLONY NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION". Below that, the Cape Colony coat of arms with female herald supporters, blowing trumpets. To the right and left Zulu shields and spears above crossed rifles, all above a shooting range scene, with seated adjudicator and spectator with binoculars, surrounded by laurel wreath. The base has a cartouche which reads "INTER COLONIAL GRAND CHALLENGE SHIELD". This shield is also found in white metal and copper, this is a sterling silver version, with a full set of clear hallmarks. It is listed in Laidlaw (Commemorative Medals of South Africa, 1017), it was first produced by Mappin & Webb between 1902 and 1910. Ev...

A set of 6 rat tail trefid coffee spoons, reproductions of a 17th century style, but just a few years short of being antique themselves. The spoons are in excellent condition, they do not appear to have been used. The original box reads "Wilson & Gill, The Goldsmiths, 139 Regent Street, London W", under a crown. Wilson and Gill was established in 1892, it still trades today as Hester Clarke (www.hesterclarke.co.uk), run by the 5th generation descendants. The hallmarks are clear on all 6 spoons, including makers mark TB&S for Thomas Bradbury & Sons, a leading Sheffield manufacturer.

Plain marrowscoop, by specialist spoonmaker Elizabeth Oldfield. This scoop is very dainty, being smaller than later versions. Oldfield was the widow of silversmith Charles Jackson, and had a previous mark as Elizabeth Jackson. She remarried in 1750, when the mark pictured here was registered. The hallmarks are clear, and the original owners initials "WY" are scratched in small letters next to the makers mark.

A good associated set of Onslow Tablespoons, of good gauge and with good ends, very pleasing to use. The 3 oldest spoons are original Onslow, and have the owners initials L+D scratch engraved on them. The 3 later spoons were converted in late Victorian times, a common practice (Ian Pickford comments in his excellent Flatware book that most Onslow pattern flatware that exists today is converted). A very faint butt joint can be detected on close examination with a loop, but is so faint it cannot be seen by the naked eye and is not visible in photographs. The hallmarks are all clear, the Adams spoons have an indented duty mark.

An interesting 17th century style silver notched 2 pronged fork, a replica of the earliest known English table fork. The fork has 3 notches at the top of the stem, a rare feature seen occasionally on puritan spoons. The hallmarks are beautiful, large and well struck, they form part of the decoration. The original, made in 1632, is known as the Manners Fork, and is in the V&A museum in London. The original belonged to the Rutland family of Haddon Hall, and has the crest of John Manners, 8th Earl of Rutland. This fork is a good gauge, very pleasing to use, we tested it on cold meats and olives! The hallmarks are excellent, and include makers mark FH for Francis Howard, the firm worked between 1900 and 1986. The fork comes in it's original box, with pickle fork explanatory card, and expalnation of the hallmarks. A real talking point for your dinner table. This fork is identical to S 1568 which we have already sold, and S1808.

A rare pair of Prince of Wales' feathers picture back teaspoons, in the Hanoverian pattern, with Prince of Wales' feathers to the reverse of the bowl. The crown is well struck and clear, the feathers less well struck with some wear, but still clearly visible. As is typical for a teaspoon of the period, these Hanoverian pattern spoons are struck with two marks - lion passant and maker's mark. All the marks are squashed, the maker's mark could be W*L or possibly I*M, depending on which way you read the marks (all assistance welcome), with mullet between the letters. The spoons have no engraving, and are in great condition with just minor wear to the picture back. The motif on the back of the bowl probably commemorates the life of Frederick Louis, Prince of Wales (1707-1751) and heir apparent to the English throne. He was the eldest and estranged son of King George II, but he pre-deceased his father and so the crown passed instead to his eldest son who became George III. John Luddington, in his book "Startin...

An interesting 17th century style silver notched 2 pronged fork, a replica of the earliest known English table fork. The fork has 3 notches at the top of the stem, a rare feature seen occasionally on puritan spoons. The original, made in 1632, is known as the Manners Fork, and is in the V&A museum in London. The original belonged to the Rutland family of Haddon Hall, and has the crest of John Manners, 8th Earl of Rutland. This fork is a good gauge, very pleasing to use, we tested it on cold meats and olives! The hallmarks are excellent, and include makers mark FH for Francis Howard, the firm worked between 1900 and 1986. The fork comes in it's original box, with label "V.K. Chapman, Jeweller & Silversmith, 104 South St, St. Andrews", A real talking point for your dinner table. This fork is identical to S 1568 which we have already sold, made 2 years later.

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 sterling silver dessert fork in the magnificent Bacchanalian pattern. This is one of the rarest English silver flatware patterns, it was originally produced by Paul Storr. The fork shows Bacchus, the Roman God of wine, riding a lion, whilst a topless Diana looks on, with another figure asleep at her feet. The back of the fork is also beautifully decorated, with a masque over a theatre curtain, and tilted amphora of wine. Bunches of grapes and vine leaves complete the decoration. The fork has original owners engraved initials AMD. The fork is extremely good quality, quite heavy to hold, and the hallmarks are clear. They include makers mark FH for Francis Higgins and London hallmarks for 1846. Bacchanalian pattern is shown in "Silver Flatware" by Pickford (pg. 127), where a dessert service made by Wakely and Wheeler is depicted. The pattern was originally designed by Thomas Stothard, the famous painter and designer, for Rundell, Bridge & Rundell, the Royal silversmiths, in 1812, the first service was used by ...

A rare Victorian silver Cyclists Touring Club certificate holder, in the form of a pendant, with an original enamel membership certificate for 1899. The holder is in the shape of a bicycle wheel, complete with spokes, and is decorated with the badge of the Cyclists Touring Club, three feathered wings surrounding a central cog which says "trademark". The initials CTC in gothic script complete the logo. This logo should be familiar to all, it is still used today on Bicycle playing cards, which have been produced since 1885. The holder, which is silver, is unmarked, the pendant loop however is hallmarked with the English sterling lion passant. The enamel badge has the same logo with the date 1899 on a green background. The rear, which reads "Cyclists' Touring Club Membership Certificate", is signed by secretary Ernest R Shipton. The original member's details are still visible, it reads "No 23689, W.O. Trotter, Oak House, Brandon". Oak House in Brandon, Suffolk still exists at 70 High Street, it is the home of De...

A lovely pair of decorative Hanau silver Christening (or anointing) spoons, with an Apostle carrying a baby standing on a winged cherub's head. The stems are twisted, the base decorated with a peacock eating fruit, above a face. The back of the bowls are richly decorated with a diamond pattern and scrolling foliage, and the spoons have a rat tail. The spoons are cast, and as such are quite solid, with a pleasing weight. As is usual with Hanau silver, they are replica's of fine 17th century German silver. The spoons, which have no Hanau hallmarks, were imported into Britian in 1889 by David Bridge of the firm John Smith & Co, as can be seen by makers mark D.B and capital F (hallmark for foreign silver, used between 1867 and 1903). The spoons also have date letter O for 1889. The hallmarks on both spoons are very clear. John Smith & Co. imported a great deal of decorative silver into Britian, much of which was of German origin, presumably Hanau (Culme, Gold and silversmiths).

A set of Edwardian replica Apostle spoons, with gilded Apostles and gilded fig shaped bowls, in original felt and silk lined box. The spoons are quite large, suitable for use as serving spoons. The practise of reproducing earlier styles of silver was common at the turn of the century. These spoons are very fine quality. The Apostles appear to be: 1. The Master (Saviour) with orb and cross. 2. St Peter with key. 3. St James the Greater with pilgrims staff. 4. St Matthew with purse. We are not sure of the significance of a boxed set of 4 Apostles, perhaps originally a Christening present. Wakely and Wheeler (originally Lias & Son) were manufacturing silversmiths, who supplied many leading dealers in their day. The hallmarks on all 4 spoons are clear.

Plain silver piecrust waiter by Asprey, of exceptional quality, as you would expect from Asprey. The waiter has 3 feet, very clear hallmarks, and is also stamped "Asprey London, J". It is a good weight, and in excellent condition.

Beautiful christening set (boxed spoon and fork) with Hey diddle diddle nursery rhyme, in original box. Exquisite detail, as can be seen from the photographs. Spoon bowl shows detail of complete nursery rhyme. The shafts have a dog, the cow jumping the moon and the cat (who has mysteriously switched from a fiddle to a cello!). Levi and Salaman were well known for their large selection of intricate souvenir spoons. Very clear hallmarks.

A Georgian silver wine label, with original engraving for Madeira, by the Phipps family of silversmiths, who have been described as one of the best known London firms producing labels (Wine Labels 1730-2003, page 168). The label is rectangular with fully rounded ends, and has a reeded border (note this is classified as a rectangular label rather than an oval label, which are more eye shaped (Wine labels page 51). The label has 2 holes for the suspensory rings connected to the original chain. The label is also engraved with original owners initials RB on the back just above the hallmarks. The hallmarks are very crisp and clear, they could not be better, the detail of hair on the duty mark and mane on the lion passant are clearly visible. The makers mark is interesting, TP over ER in quatrefoil punch, without pellets. This is an unregistered punch, not recorded in Grimwade (London Goldsmiths 1697-1837), Phipps and Robinson usual registered punch, similar but with clearly defined pellets, Grimwade 2891, used bet...

Bright cut helmet shaped cream jug with beaded rim and square base, very typical of the period. Clear hallmarks, with evidence hallmarks were applied before the bright cut engraving. Cartouche has initials engraved on it. Very interesting makers name!

A sterling silver trophy spoon for the Bull-Terrier Club, which would have been commissioned by the club to present a more useful trophy than a medal. The spoon is teaspoon size, the quality and condition are excellent, the front of the bowl still has it's original gilding. The spoon has a well modelled bull-terrier, surrounded by "THE BULL-TERRIER CLUB". The hallmarks, which are struck in the front of the bowl, are very clear. The Bull-Terrier collar has initials BH, we assume the artist who designed the spoon. The Bull Terrier Club of the UK still exists today, it was founded in 1887, it's website describes it as the oldest and largest of it's type in the world. I doubt they still have such beautiful silver spoon trophies!