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.

Beautiful set of ornate berryspoons, originally by Hester Bateman but converted during Victorian times. The conversion must have been done by a master craftsman as the quality is excellent. The gilt bowls display no wear, these spoons have not seen much use. Delightful crest of a dove holding an olive branch, so I suppose these are peace spoons! The hallmarks are very clear, including the Hester Bateman makers mark.

A Georgian silver mote spoon, made by Philip Roker III in either 1766 or 1767. The mote spoon is the traditional shape, with a pierced bowl, tapered handle and diamond point finial, which is quite sharp. The piercing has a central starburst design, surrounded by symmetrical scrolls and holes. The spoon has a long drop, which is also pierced. The spoon has 2 hallmarks, a lion passant and makers mark P. ROKER, which was only used by Philip Roker III for 2 years, hence our ability to date the spoon so precisely. This is mark 3753 in Grimwade, who ascribes the mark to Philip Roker II (who died in 1757, so we assume Grimwade is incorrect. The Roker family were specialist spoonmakers, and have left behind some wonderful spoons. Mote spoons originated in the early 18th century, and were used to skim off floating particles of tea leaves and motes (tea dust) from a cup of tea (Newman, Illustrated Dictionary of Silverware, page 217). The long thin handle with sharpened point was used to clear the spout of a teapot (wh...

A rare Tudor pattern Child's size spoon and fork, made by Chawner & Co, the leading flatware maker of Victorian England. They are not an exact set, the spoon was made in 1850 and is engraved with owners initials WM in flowing script, the fork was made in 1851 and is engraved with owners initials FB in Gothic capitals, but otherwise they match well and make a useful set, very suitable as a Christening present. The Tudor pattern is a Gothic Revival pattern, it has 2 small scroll circular projections on each side of the stem, this differentiates it from the "Straight Tudor" pattern. Both are clearly hallmarked, and both have a journeyman's mark - R on spoon and I on the fork. In addition, both also carries the British Registry design number and date chart diamond, which rarely occurs on silver flatware. The presence of the design mark indicates that Chawner registered the design to protect it being copied. Tudor is described by Pickford (Silver Flatware page 150) as "a rare Chawner & Co pattern registered Augus...

A Boer War antique silver sweetheart brooch, that reads "S Africa 1900-2". The brooch has a realistically modelled Lee Enfield rifle with hanging strap, with applied circular pierced badge, which also features the English rose, Welsh leek and Scottish thistle. The brooch has a pin clasp (note pin has an old repair where it has been re-soldered onto the rifle), it also has a detachable chain with hanger shaped safety pin, to prevent the brooch being lost. The back of the rifle is clearly hallmarked for Birmingham 1901/2, with makers mark WL, in 2 shields, for William Light who worked between 1895 and 1912.

An engraved Victorian silver castletop cigarette case, featuring Edinburgh Castle. The case is rectangular, and is clearly hallmarked. The engraving is well done and in excellent condition, with clear details, scottish thistles surround the castle. The case also has original owners initials AP in script.

A lovely pair of Old English pattern tablespoons, with Leopards head family crest. The leopard is quite realistically engraved, and looks quite fierce. The hallmarks are excellent, as good as they could be, a journeyman's mark (the silversmith who made the spoons in the Wallis workshop) of 2 dots is also present. What is of interest about these hallmarks is the double cusp on the duty mark, to the right and base, this mark was only used between 6 July 1797 and 28 May 1798, 6 July being the date at which duty on silver was doubled from sixpence to one shilling. Jackson shows the 2 cusps to the left and base, this mark was never used on spoons, it was only used on tongs and knife blades that did not require the London town mark (Tony Dove, in an article entitled "The cusped duty used at the assay offices from 1797", in the Finial Vol. 14-04). 1797 was the first year a cusp was used, it was used again periodically when duty changed. The different assay offices applied the usage of cusps differently.

An interesting Sampson Mordan antique silver bowl, with a Victorian silver half crown dated 1900 set into the bowl. The bowl is engraved "God Save The Queen, The Last Coinage of the Nineteenth Century". The bowl is good quality, the coin is very fine, protected by the rim on the base. The hallmarks are excellent, including Sampson Mordan makers mark. The bowl is also stamped "copyright" in small letters below the coin. Sampson Mordan are well known for their collectable novelty silver.

Unusual set of 6 Arts and Crafts coffee spoons, made by Liberty, each set with different semi precious stones - malachite, amethyst, sodalite, turquoise, garnet and a green stone we cannot identify. The spoons are still in their original box, showing they were retailed by Mappin and Webb, Regent St, London. The spoons were made the year after Liberty closed their Cymric business (1901 - 1926), which was a partnership with William Haseler. The hallmarks are very clear on all spoons.

An Art Deco Sterling silver trophy, beautifully engraved with the crest of the Transvaal Scottish Regiment, and unusually for Regimental silver, in excellent condition. The trophy stands on its original wooden base, with circular plaque with makers mark Mappin & Webb. The trophy is small but beautifully proportioned, with Art Deco handles. The engraving is also very crisp and clear, the hallmarks are also clearly visible. The Transvaal Scottish Regiment was established in 1902 at the end of the Anglo Boer war by John Murray, 7th Duke of Atholl, original members were Scottish volunteers. They served with distinction in both World Wars, including El Alamein. They still exist today, but in 2019 were renamed the Solomon Mahlangu Regiment, to reflect South Africa's freedom struggle. The regiment still wears Murray of Atholl Regimental tartan.

A lovely set of 6 Rat-tail Hanoverian coffee spoons with gilded bowls, and matching sugar tongs. These spoons have wavy rat-tails, a very unusual feature we have not seen before. The arms of the tongs are modeled as matching spoons, complete with the wavy rat-tail. Hallmarks on all 7 items are clear. Harry Synyer and Charles Beddoes worked between 1897 and 1949, from Vyse Street, Birmingham.

A private die silver Victorian dessert fork, made by Elkington & Co in 1898. The fork is an excellent gauge, over 60 grammes, a good quality fork. It is double struck with a variant of Kings pattern, but with an ornate scrolling design below the raised family crest. The crest is a griffin holding a branch with leaves in its beak, described as "Griffin's head erased argent holding in the baek a sprig or rose branch proper", this is the Watson family crest. This branch of the Watson family came from Silsden, Yorkshire, descendants of Rowland Watson, Silsden Moor late 16th century. The hallmarks are very clear. Private die flatware was individually commissioned with the family crest die-stamped rather than engraved on a stock pattern (Pickford, Silver Flatware, page 173. Most 19th century private die patterns were supplied through Hunt & Roskell to members of the peerage and other wealthy clients. Pickford describes these as "fascinating, but obviously impossible to build into services". Note - this fork is acco...

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).

Set of 3 gilt spoons (caddy, sugar sifter and jam) with exquisite decoration in the style of the Aesthetic Movement. This movement flourished in the period 1865 - 1885, after the International Exhibition in London led to a an interest in Japanese decorative arts. The decoration consists of abstract patterns of bamboos, birds and butterflies. Original silk lined box, and very clear hallmarks.

A pair of antique silver whisky noggins, also called Chota Pegs. The noggins are the traditional conical shape, with cut glass star base, glass handle and silver pouring collar and lid with thumb piece. The hallmarks are clear on both the rim and the lid of both noggins. Whisky noggins were popular in Edwardian times, they contain a 1 gill (30 ml) measure, so a generous double tot, and were made to be taken to bed. They were also popular amongst British expats in India during the Raj period, where they were called "Chota Peg", or little drink, also "go to bed" drink. Joshua and John Maxfield, founded in 1855 in Sheffield, were celebrated at the Jewellers Exhibition of 1913 for "the extent and variety of novelties which they have placed on the market" Culme, Gold & Silversmiths pg 319. They had a showroom in London's Regent Street so must have been a prestigious firm.

A sterling silver wine taster made by Anthony Elson, one of the 50 leading silversmiths featured in the book "Designer British Silver 1930-1985" by Andrew and Styles, a book we highly recommend. The wine taster has the traditional circular bowl with raised base, and a lovely cast silver handle of textured vine branches, with some pruned ends. The handle is a delight to hold, the thumb rests easily and the grip is secure, so very suitable for use. The taster is clearly hallmarked, including makers mark A.G.E, and also has an engraved number 278 on the base (we know this taster was a limited edition commissioned by the Heritage Collection in 1976, so perhaps each is individually numbered). Anthony Gordon Elson trained under Dunstan Pruden, he worked for William Comyns from 1964-1968 before establishing his own operation, ecclesiastical goods and also limited editions for leading retailers, including Asprey, Spink, Hennell's and Garrards, this taster is one of these. After the boom (he had around 30 staff) creat...

A fabulous sterling silver letter opener, with an impressive cast silver Leopard's head, the detail is superb. The letter blade has well struck large hallmarks along the front, these form part of the decoration. The quality is excellent, it has a lovely feel in the hand, and when you leave it on your desk you cannot resist picking it up. The animal may not be a leopard, my wife suggested Jaguar, please see the photograph's.

A rat tail Hanoverian pattern tablespoon, with clear hallmarks. The spoon the traditional rat tail used before 1730, the Hanoverian rib on the front of the stem, and original owners engraved initials W*C on the back of the stem, as is usual for 18th century spoons. 3 hallmarks are very clear, the crowned leopards head has excellent detail. The makers mark W.S in oval punch is partially worn, the W slightly worn. William Soame was freed in 1720, he was a largeworked, he died in 1772, after being retired "many years". (Grimwade page 665, mark 3295).

A Royal Navy Gold Officers Sweetheart brooch, with gold pin and clasp in full working order. The cast badge has the Royal Navy fouled anchor under Crown, surrounded by laurel wreath, the badge has good detail. No hallmarks are present, but we are certain the pin is solid gold (we assume 9 carat).

A set of three sterling silver items, namely ladle, saltspoon and butterknife, in the popular Fiddle, Thread and Shell pattern, with engraved Marais Family coat of arms, which is very clear on all 3 items. The ladle is a pleasing size and weight,108 grammes, the quality is excellent on all 3 items. The hallmarks are very clear, including makers mark D&J W, for Daniel & John Wellby, who worked between 1827 and 1974 from Garrick Street, London. The Marais family coat of arms is described as "Azure, a chain sable fesswise, in chief a crescent reversed and a base of two hills vert" - Pama, Heraldry of South African Families, page 53, depicted on Plate 18, no 280, of the Bell Krynauw Collection. It dates back to Charles Marais of the farm Plasir de Merle, who arrived in the Cape in 1688, and was "murdered by a Hottentot on the farm in 1689". Note - we have other matching items with the Marais Family armorial.