Interesting set of 3 wine labels, for Port, Sherry and RRandy! - the original engraver made quite a mistake! The labels are Brittania silver (950 as opposed to sterling 925)and have a Georgian scroll design, in the style of Hester Bateman, circa 1785. They have zig zag engraved borders, and a small blank heraldic shield above the scroll. Levi and Salaman were well regarded, known for their work in reproducing the Georgian style.
Rectangular, plain but elegant teapot on 4 ball feet, characteristic of the style between 1805 and 1810. Wooden handle and ivory finial. Beautiful tree stump crest, excellent hallmarks, including lid.
A handbeaten, three legged, Arts and Crafts sweet bowl, with leaf and paw feet. In addition to the hallmarks (which are clear) the bowl is stamped "Connell, 83 Cheapside". Connell's was a highly regarded firm which was situated at 83 Cheapside from 1845 until it went into voluntary liquidation in 1939, probably as a result of the outbreak of war. Connell's of Cheapside have been described as "pioneers of modern artistic silverware" (Pudney, Silver Society Journal 11), one of the few traditional London dealers that promoted the Arts and Crafts movement. Much of their silver was produced by WH Haseler, William Hutton & Sons and AE Jones.
4 piece tea service comprising teapot, hot water jug, creamer and sugar, by the well known craftsman A.E. Jones. They are beautifully made, with spot hammered bodies and cast disc feet. A simple design of an embossed band with roses is present, as is the engraved initial R. All pieces are fully hallmarked with clear hallmarks, including the lids and even the finial screwnut.
A lovely Edwardian Christening set, comprising of a replica rattail trefid spoon with ribbed rattail, very distinct notches, with matching fork, in original box. Both have very clear hallmarks. Francis Higgins was a specialist spoon and fork maker, who carried a hammer with him in the workshop to destroy any work not up to his standards (Culme, Gold and Silversmiths). He also commented "it should last more than a lifetime, boy" - he would have been proud of this pair. Higgins supplied leading dealers, including Hunt & Roskell and Garrard, this set was retailed by Mappin & Webb of Oxford Street.
A lovely set of replica laceback rattail trefid spoons, decorated in traditional style, both on the front of the stems and the back of the bowls. The rattail is ribbed, the scrolls are elaborate, and the terminals have the traditional notched pattern. These spoons are Brittania standard (950 grade vs. 925 of sterling), as is often the case with early 20th century replica silver. These spoons are very good quality, and the hallmarks are very clear on all 6 spoons.
Very fine pair of heavy, embossed rectangular salts on raised base by well known maker. The decoration is embossed scroll, shell and floral with gadrooned rims. The crest is a dove with an olive branch in its beak. These salts are heavy even without the glass liners.
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.
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 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.
An extremely rare, Brittania silver, rattail soup ladle in the Hanoverian pattern, of good gauge. The patination on the ladle is lovely, and the bowl, rattail and handle are in proportion, with no sign of alteration. The ladle has the initials E*G scratch engraved on the back of the handle. The stem rises at a sharp angle (almost 90 degrees) to the bowl, the characteristics of a ladle as opposed to a spoon. Snodin (English silver spoons, 1974, pg 46) describes the earliest ladles as dating from the 1730's, this is a rare early example. The hallmarks are worn but visible, the makers mark is very worn, with only the outline of the shield and a ghosting of the makers initials visible. The date letter is poorly struck, but visible enought to determine D from 1719 fairly confidently. Given the wear on the makers mark, an interesting debate has ensued as to the maker. The first letter is definitely S, the second is unclear, the distinctively shaped shield surrounding the makers mark is clearly visible. We had origi...
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.
A Liberty Cymric nail vanity set, complete with buff, tweezers, file, scissors, knife and shaper, all steel manicure tools with silver handles set with turquoise cabochons on each side (10 in total). Each piece is fully hallmarked with "L & Co" makers mark, townmark, date letter and sterling mark, but none have the "cymric" stamp, as they were probably too small. Handbeaten silver set with turquoise cabochons is classic Arts and Crafts, probably designed by Archibald Knox, who designed for Liberty until 1912. The scissors do not have cabochons, but are a lovely shape (unfortunately one steel tip is broken off). The nail buff has its original leather base, which is worn but still intact. This set matches item S 1361.
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.
An Arts and Crafts silvergilt medallion, mounted on ivory, by Omar Ramsden, who is regarded as the leading English Arts and Crafts silversmith. The medallion is in classic Arts and Crafts style, and depicts a printing press surrounded by "LMPA", and surrounding scroll with "The London Master Printers Association". The medallion still has its original blue ribbon, with clasp in full working order, in its original fitted Garrard case.The box reads " By Appointment to HM the Queen, Goldsmiths and Crown Jewellers, Garrard & Co Ltd, 112 Regent Street, W1". The hallmarks are very clear, including OR makers mark, and the back is engraved "Omar Ramsden Me Fecit", translated Omar Ramsden made me, as is usual for his work.
An Arts and Crafts napkin ring set with 4 silver coins, by Charles Robert Ashbee, who was a major force behind the British Arts and Crafts movement. The napkin ring is hand beaten, and the rim has an attractive punched dot pattern. The 4 coins include: 1. Roman Denarius, 46BC, produced by the military mint travelling with Caesar in North Africa. Venus head on obverse, CAESAR, reverse has Aeneas holding his father Anchises on his shoulder, holding palladium in other hand. 2. Danish Krone (Christian IV), dated 1643 3. Danish Krone (Frederik III, brother of Christian IV), dated 1667 4. English shilling (George III), issued in 1787, with kings head in roman attire on obverse, 4 angular shields surrounding garter star, with crowns in angles of shields The hallmarks are very clear, including makers mark CRA in shaped shield. The napkin ring is in excellent condition, thanks to it being preserved in its original box (box is intact but in poor condition). We can only guess as to the origin of the napkin ring, p...
A replica Slip Top spoon, made to commemorate the silver jubilee (25 years on the throne) of King George V and Queen Mary. The spoon is in traditional slip-top form, with hexagonal stem, slip-top end and pear shaped bowl. Original Slip Top spoons date from the early 17th century, and were described by Eric Delieb (Investing in Silver) as "possibly the most graceful of spoons". The hallmarks are exceptional, showing very good detail, including the Jubilee mark which shows the sovereign's heads in profile. This mark was only used in 1934 and 1935 on a voluntary basis.
Engine turned vinaigrette with beautiful grille. The cartouche is initialled with initial T, the base has bright cut wrigglework with flowerhead. The interior is gilt. Joseph Willmore is described by Eric Delieb (Silver Boxes) as "a superlative silversmith, who worked in the trade for almost half a century".
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.