A 9 Carat gold World War II Transvaal Scottish Volunteers Regiment Sweetheart brooch, with motto " Alba nam Buadh (Scotland, Home of the Virtues), in full working order. The brooch is lovely quality, with 2 tones of gold (yellow and red), set on a bar brooch. The back of the brooch is engraved "MOIRA 12/6/42", and both the brooch and the clasp are clearly hallmarked 9CT for nine carat gold. The Transvaal Scottish Regiment was established by John Murray, 7th Earl of Atholl, in 1902 at the end of the Anglo Boer War, it still exists today. During World War 2 when this brooch was presented, the regiment fought mostly in North and East Africa, notably at El Alamein.

A REME (Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers) Regimental 9 carat gold Sweetheart Brooch. The badge depicts a horse rearing with a coronet around its neck, linked via a chain to a globe the horse is standing on. Behind the horse there is a lightning flash, which symbolises electrical engineering while the globe stands for the world-wide role of the unit. The chained horse symbolises power under control. The badge is completed with the British Royal Crown. The flash and crown are clearly hallmarked 9 carat yellow gold, the horse is a much lighter colour, we assume it is white gold. The hinge, pin and safety clasp are also yellow gold. The brooch also has a gold suspension ring behind the lightning flash, possibly for another form of attachment. The brooch is clearly hallmarked for Birmingham 1967, 9 carat gold and has makers mark W.O.L, they worked between 1953 and 1970 but are currently un-identified, possibly W.O. Lewis. This badge is described by members of the REME as "a horse dropping a bollock".

A W.R.N.S. (Women's Royal Naval Service) 9 carat gold and enamel Sweetheart brooch, probably dating back to WW II. The brooch has lovely detail, with 2 tones of gold, the W.R.N.S. badge of a bird (wren) sitting on an anchor behind the naval crown, above W.R.N.S. scroll in blue enamel. This is mounted on a 9 carat gold bar brooch, with gold pin and locking clasp, often these pins are not gold. The bar is clearly hallmarked 9CT for 9 carat gold. The W.R.N.S. (popularly and officially known as the Wrens) was the Women's branch of the Royal Navy, served as cooks, clerks, wireless telegraphists, radar plotters, weapons analysts, range assessors, electricians and air mechanics, in 1944 they had 75000 service women.

A South African Medical Corps WW II gold sweetheart brooch, mounted on a bar brooch. The badge features the rod of Aesculapius with a serpent entwined round it, head uppermost and looking left, all within a laurel wreath, under a Royal crown, the same badge as used by the Royal Medical Corps. The Scroll below reads "S.A.M.C / S.A.G.D.", translated in Afrikaans the Suid Afrikaanse Geneeskunige Diens. The brooch is clearly hallmarked 9CT for 9 carat gold, the swivel clasp securely fastens the pin.

A World War II 9 carat gold and enamel sweetheart brooch for the Durban Light Infantry Regiment of South Africa. The brooch features the infantry bugle with tassles under the Royal crown. The brooch has 2 colours of enamel, red in the crown and blue for the letters DLI, the gold has 2 tones, this is a lovely quality brooch. The clasp has a swivel locking mechanism to keep it safely fastened. the brooch is clearly hallmarked 9CT for nine carat gold. The George VI crown shows this dates to WW II, the DLI fought in North Africa and Italy (including El Alamein and Monte Cassino). The regiment was founded in 1854, and still exists today, they were called the Royal Durban Light Infantry between 1935 and 1961 when South Africa became a Republic.

A 15 carat gold and enamel RAF (Royal Air Force) sweetheart brooch, with red and green enamel, perfectly preserved in it's original leather and silk box. The only hallmark present is 15CT for fifteen carat gold. The box is lovely, and reads "Royal Appointment, Gieves Ltd, 21 Old Bond St London W1". Gieves is now Gieves and Hawkes after the acquisition of Hawkes in 1974, they hold Royal Warrants for the Royal Family and the Prince of Wales, now at 1 Savile Row.

A pair of Victorian silver toddy ladles, in the Old English Thread pattern, made in London for a Scottish family. The ladles have engraved Scottish crests of a hand grasping a dagger issuing from a heart, underneath motto "With Heart and Hand", the engraving on both is crisp and clear (only Scottish motto's are above the crest). The ladles are double struck, with pattern on both sides, and the thread is a double thread. They are good quality ladles, a pleasing weight, and preserved in excellent condition. Toddy ladles are uniquely Scottish, and usually single struck, so this London made double struck pair are unusual. The hallmarks on both are very clear, including makers mark H.H for Henry Holland, an important firm established in 1838 that became Holland, Aldwinckle & Slater, until absorbed into Francis Higgins in 1922. The crest and motto are for the Dudgeon family. A notable Victorian London based Dudgeon business was J&W Dudgeon, a shipbuilding and engineering company, they built blockade runners for the...

A fabulous pair of scarce Kings Fiddle Husk tablespoons, of exceptional quality and weight, made by Elizabeth Eaton. These spoons both weigh over 105 grammes each, amongst the heaviest we have encountered. The spoons have the Husk heel, and have no initials or engraving. Kings Husk pattern is a scarce variant of the Kings pattern, the most obvious difference being the omission of the central honeysuckle and a husk shell rather than a concave shell (Pickford, Silver Flatware, pg 136). In addition there is no shell on the back. It was first produced during the Regency, Paul Storr also produced this pattern. The hallmarks are clear on both spoons, including makers mark EE in a bifoil punch, for Elizabeth Eaton. Eaton inherited the firm in 1845 on the death of her husband William, her son John joined the business in 1854, they sold the business to Henry Holland in 1864. (Culme, Directory of Gold and Silversmiths, pg 134). The firm had a good reputation, Elizabeth Eaton exhibited silver spoons and forks at the Gr...

An interesting Georgian silver snuffbox, with Finlayson family interest. The snuff box has an engraved cross hatch design, with 2 intersecting straps, copying an early suitcase or trunk. The snuff box is curved, so would fit snugly in a pocket. The interior is gilded. The straps are very suitable for engraving, and the names of 4 different generations of Finlaysons have been engraved on this one. The 4 names include "John Finlayson Merchant, Canongate 1760, John Finlayson S.S.C. Edinburgh 1824, Thomas B. Finlayson 1862, Mary H. Finlayson 1874". The base is also engraved with owners initials AF 1833, we assume another Finlayson. The script engraving of all 4 names is different, so was engraved at different times as ownership of the box transferred. The first date precedes the age of the box, so we assume the 2nd Finlayson started the tradition. The hallmarks are clear, and include makers mark ID without pellet (Grimwade 1250), this could be John Douglas or John Death, we assume Douglas as he was a known snuf...

An octagonal silver sparrow beak milk jug, a modern reproduction of a popular 18th century style, circa 1725. It is pitcher shaped, has a scroll handle, and sits on an applied octagonal foot. The base of the sparrow beak has 2 applied balls, completing the design. The jug is a very good weight and quality, as you would expect from Garrards, the Crown Jewellers. In addition to being a very pleasing design, it pours beautifully, so very suitable for use. The hallmarks are excellent, including makers mark "G & Co Ld". Garrards is a very prestigious firm, originally founded by George Wickes in 1722. They succeeded Rundell, Bridge & Co as Crown Jewellers in 1843, and are still based in Regent Street.

Unusual and beautiful Fiddle pattern serving spoon and fork. The spoon bowl is an unusual oval shape. Forks of this size are rare, serving sets even more so. Beautiful stags head crest and clear hallmarks.

An interesting set of 6 Art Deco sterling silver sandwich flags, perfectly preserved in their original box. The silver flags are accompanied by 20 double sided interchangeable plastic flag names, these include: - caviare, tomato& cheese, smoked salmon,beef, cucumber, sardine, anchovy,chicken, egg& anchovy, egg, ham, cheese, tomato, lobster, cress, smoked roe, crab, banana, tongue and fish. The flags themselves are good quality, ivory in colour (sometimes described as ivorine, certainly intended to imitate ivory) with clear black lettering, all 20 are in good condition. The flags can be interchanged according to the menu. It is interesting to see what would have been on the sandwich menu in 1929, caviare, smoked roe and lobster, but also banana! All 6 flags are fully hallmarked, clearly legible on 5 flags, one flag has indistinct marks. All 6 flags are also marked "Made in England", alongside a provisional patent number "Pro/ Pt 33279/28" and design registration number "Rd 742069". Adolph Scott worked between...

A modern reproduction of the rare "eagle's wing" caddy spoon, amongst the most collectable and desirable of all caddy spoons. The original versions of this spoon were produced by Joseph Willmore and Matthew Linwood in Birmingham circa 1815. It was also copied by George Unite in Birmingham circa 1865 (see John Norie Collection of Caddyspoons - Woolley & Wallis, 2004). John Norie himself described the eagles wing caddyspoon as "the most revered and sought after of all specimens" in his definitive book on the subject. This is a cast spoon (cast marks can be seen on the base), and is very good quality and gauge, and pleasing to hold. The plumage is textured and the hallmarks are very clear. The eagle's wing caddy spoon is the emblem of the Society of Caddy Spoon Collectors, who recently published the book "The Caddy Spoon in the 20th Century", with the eagles wing featured on the back cover. They note that Thomas Bradbury & Sons reproduced the eagle's wing caddyspoon (page 18) along with other traditional spoons,...

A very interesting silver drum salt, designed by Alex Styles and retailed through Garrard, to commemorate the 650th anniversary of the Goldsmiths Company in 1977. The body is decorated with a fabulous interpretation of the Goldsmiths Company Arms, and the dates 1327-1977. The arms (granted in 1571) include quartered leopards head and covered cup with 2 buckles, and a stylized demi-virgin (thought to possibly be Queen Elizabeth I) holding the scales (balances) of Justice and a touchstone, both used for testing precious metals. The armorial is supported by 2 unicorns (representing purity), and the motto JUSTITIA VIRTUTUM REGINA, latin for "Justice is Queen of Virtues". The design has been photo-etched onto the silver, a modern technique which we think does justice to the armorial. The Goldsmiths company is one of the 12 great Livery companies of London, they were granted Royal Charter in 1327. The Leopards head (actually a lion but in 1327 the word for lion and leopard was the same) comes from the Royal standar...

A lovely antique 9 Carat rose gold Albert Chain bracelet, of exceptional quality. This has been converted into a bracelet from a Gentleman's Albert chain, used to hold his pocket watch in place, named after Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's husband. The links are gradated, with each link either slightly larger (or smaller) than the one next to it, the largest links are in the centre of the bracelet (0.8 cm across), the smaller at the end (0.6 cm). The original gold T-bar hangs from a few links off the end of the chain, so it hangs freely when the bracelet is closed. The gold has a noticeable lovely reddish tinge, hence our description rose gold, which is usually associated with Welsh gold. What marks this chain as exceptional quality is that each and every link is hallmarked, some more clearly than others, with the 9 carat mark (9.375). The T-bar has the same 9.375 mark, plus makers mark E.W&S for E Whitehouse and Sons, who worked in 1902, from Vyse Street, Birmingham. The shepherds hook clasp, which ensures a...

A rare Victorian silver postal scale, in full working order. The scale is intended for measuring postal items, so that the correct postage could be applied. This scale would have been used in a wealthy household, not a Post Office. The front is engraved "Postal Scale" on top, on the side "Postal Union Rates 2 1/2 d for each 1/2 ounce." To the left is engraved "English Rates" above measuring scale from 1d - 4d in 1/2 increments. To the right are 2 measures, 1 marked "LB" for pounds (scale 0 to 1 LB), to the right "OZ" for ounces measuring from 1-16. The engraving is exquisite, this is a lovely item. The base is rectangular with a Chippendale rim. The scale also has a knob (for adjusting scale) behind the pan, and a silver screw for opening the scale. The side of the scale is fully hallmarked, a registration number RD 308820, is also present. The top pan is also hallmarked, these are worn from polishing. Levi & Salaman were established in 1870, they were known for their high quality silver novelties...

Pair of Old English serving spoons of good gauge, with a nice feel.They are perfect for use as heavy duty serving spoons. They have an interesting crest of a tulip in front of 2 crossed crosses, each cross arm bearing another cross. Hallmarks very clear.

Gilt, engine turned vinaigrette with original sponge and very good hinge. Engraved "J Lang, 1835". Grille has flowers set amongst scrolling foliage.

A set of 4 George VI Old English pattern dessert forks, made in London by leading makers the Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Company, but with an engraved Ducal crest of the Newton family of Dunleckney, County Carlow, Ireland. The forks are excellent quality and a pleasing weight, and are in excellent condition. The engraved crest of boars head above Ducal coronet (with strawberry leaves) with 2 ostrich feathers is crisply engraved with no wear. All 4 forks have clear hallmarks, including makers mark for Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Company Limited, based in Regent Street from 1880-1952, when they were incorporated into Garrards, the Crown Jeweller. These forks were made a few years after the death of Capt. Sydney Vesey, Kings Royal Rifle Corps (1873-1932), who inherited Dunleckney in 1927, his widow Edith Blanch Vesey sold Dunleckney in 1942. Note - we have spoons with the same family crest, S11388 and S11389.

A beautiful pair of Salters Company silver spoons, with the Salters Company coat of arms, and motto "Sal Sapit Omnia" (salt flavours all) on a banner wrapped around the stem. The bowls have a traditional shell design, these are very attractive spoons. The back of the armorial is embossed with the date "May 12 1853", which commemorates the date the Salters Company acquired ownership of it's Irish estates. The spoons are very good quality, are a good weight, and are perfectly preserved in their original box. The box reads "Carrington & Co. To his Majesty the King and Her Majesty Queen Alexandra, 130 Regent St W". Carrington & Co was established in 1873 by John Bodman Carrington, it still trades today. They were a very prestigious firm when these spoons were made, they had Royal warrants from Queen Victoria, Kings Edward VII and George V, as well as Czar Nicholas of Russia. The Salters Company is one of the 12 great livery companies of London, ranked 9th in order of precedence. Their origins were in the salt tr...