A set of 12 ribbed rat tail trefid teaspoons, reproductions of a 17th century style, these spoons have just reached the 100 year milestone so are now classified as antiques themselves. The spoons are in good condition, they do not appear to have seen much use. The spoons have no engraving. Reproductions of earlier styles was common in the early 20th century. All 12 spoons have clear hallmarks, including makers mark W.H.H for William Hair Haseler Ltd, who worked between 1882 and 1941. Haseler is remembered as the manufacturer for much of Liberty's Cymric silver and Tudric pewter, including pieces designed by Archibald Knox.

A 9 carat gold Natal Cadet Bisley shooting trophy medallion for 1907. The medallion has the emblem of the Natal Carbineers, South Africa's senior regiment, used prior to 1910, with the British Royal Coat of Arms above two running antelope. The Royal arms include mottoes "Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense", and "Dieu en Mon Droit" clearly readable. The medallion has clear hallmarks, including E & Co for Elkington, a leading British silversmith, and the numbers 9 and 375 representing 9 carat gold. The original loop is also gold, and is hallmarked with tiny marks. This medallion would be suitable to be worn as a pendant. Bisley is a small English village that since 1890 has been the home of the National Rifle Association championships, hence the name of the shooting medallion. The Bisley revolver has been used for target shooting since 1894.

A rare pair of ornate cast silver sugar tongs, made in London 1823 by Edward Farrell, who was one of the most celebrated silversmiths of the early 19th century, and whose work is now found in museums all over the world. The tongs feature a well modelled cherub, naked except for a loincloth, holding an arrow above his head and a bow in his other hand, the cherub is 5 cm tall. We have considered if it could be Cupid, but no wings are present. The cherub is surrounded by flowers, foliage and scrolls, and the tongs have shell bowls. The cherub is repeated on both arms. The bow has a blank cartouche. The tongs are clearly hallmarked on both bowls, London 1823 on one bowl and makers mark E.F in shaped punch (Grimwade 585). Grimwade (page 506) describes Farrell silver as "some of the most unusual productions of the Regency period, generally conceived in a kind of revival rococo style. He had a large output of heavy tea services decorated with Dutch peasant scenes in the style of Teniers, and he also produced large ...

A Sampson Mordan silver scent bottle, beautifully engraved with Kate Greenaway images, a girl pulling a smaller girl in a wheeled cart, and another capped girl walking towards a gate, all in front of a brick wall, with a church with spire in the background. The bottle is clearly hallmarked on both the base and the lid. The glass bottle inside is loose and can be removed, it fits exactly into the hole, so we are not sure if it is original or a later replacement. Kate Greenaway was a Victorian artist and writer, her 1879 book "Under the Window" a collection of simple, perfectly idyllic verses about children, was a bestseller. "Kate Greenaway" children, all of them girls and boys too young to be put in trousers, were dressed in her own versions of late 18th century and Regency fashions: smock-frocks and skeleton suits for boys, high-waisted pinafores and dresses with mobcaps and straw bonnets for girls - source Wikipedia. Sampson Mordan became famous for producing high quality, innovative novelty items, many of ...

A antique silver cigarette case, presented to a South African World War I soldier who won the Military Medal for bravery displayed at Menin Road. The inscription reads "Pte. J.J. Cronje, M.M. 4 SAI, From the Ladies of the Riversdale Red + Soc:, In Appreciation of Bravery Displayed at Menin Road, June 10th 1919". Private Cronje was part of the 4th South African Infantry Regiment, part of the larger South African Brigade, best remembered for their role in the Battle of Delville Wood in 1916, but with battle honours for Egypt, Somme, Delville Wood, Arras, Ypres, Menin Road, Cambrai, Mons and Flanders. The 4th SAI was known as the "South African Scottish", as it was raised from the Cape Town Highlanders and Transvaal Scottish Regiments, with additional recruits from Caledonian societies. Riversdale is a small farming town in the Western Cape province, en route between Cape Town and the Garden Route. We assume for the inscription it was Cronje's home town, and that the ladies of the local Red Cross Society arrange...

A rare set of 6 Victorian Military Fiddle Thread antique silver table forks, each over 90 grammes in weight, they have a lovely feel in the hand. The forks have an engraved family crest of a lion rampant, this is crisp and very clear. The hallmarks on all 6 forks are excellent, and include makers marks GA (George Adams) for Chawner & Co, the most important firm of silver spoon and fork manufacturers in Victorian England, known for excellent quality (these fine forks are no exception), See Culme, Gold & Silversmiths, page 82. Military Fiddle and Thread pattern has scrolls instead of shoulders, as do all military variants, this pattern is described by Pickford (Silver Flatware pg 117) as "a scarce variant of the Fiddle Thread pattern, building a service would be difficult".

A pair of Arts and Crafts antique silver serving spoons, with raised shell finial and planished (hand hammered) bowls, both the front and the back of the bowls. These are good quality, a pleasing weight, and a useful size for use. The hallmarks are clear on both spoons, and include a registration number, indicating Atkin Brothers protected the design.

A very rare Arts & Crafts hand hammered silver sugar bowl, with twin handles, resting on a circular reeded foot. The bowl is by Philip Frederick Alexander, who has been described as "one of the greatest Arts & Crafts silversmiths" (www.antiquesilvercompany.com). The bowl has beautiful spot hammering throughout, leaving a planished appearance, with solid D shaped handles, it is also a pleasing weight. Alexander worked between 1900 and 1920, from Church Row, Hampstead, London. He also lived in Walberswick, Suffolk, both prior and after World War 1. He would have known Charles Rennie Mackintosh, who spent a year in Walberswick during the war. He had a Master of Arts degree from Oxford (unusual for a silversmith), he was also an author of geographical discovery books, including "The Discovery of America and The North West and North East Passages", still available on Amazon (www.styles-silver.co.uk, who also have a few pieces of his work, all unfortunately sold). The hallmarks are excellent, including makers mark...

A silver beaker of extremely high quality, with lobed and reeded body on gadrooned foot, and gilded interior. The beaker is of good weight and has a lovely feel. The beaker has a lovely crest, with the motto "Manners Makyth Man", and a French motto "Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense" (shame upon him who thinks evil of it). The crest, which is well engraved, is that of the Bishop of Winchester, William of Wykeham (Winchester impaling Wykeham). The arms are surrounded by the motto of the Order of the Garter (as the Bishop of Winchester is ex officio Prelate of the Order), his personal motto is beneath the arms. Wykeham founded New College, Oxford and Winchester College, Winchester in 1382, both of which use his personal arms and motto, not those impaled with his bishopric. The French motto is the motto of the "Order of the Knights of the Garter", which was formed in 1348 by King Edward III. Edward Ker Reid, who traded from Fleet Street in London, was the Grandson of Christian Ker Reid of Newcastle, who established Reid...

A Boer war antique silver vesta case, presented as a memento by General Sir Leslie Rundle, the Commander of the 8th Division of the South African Field Force. The vesta case is the usual rectangular shape, with spring hinged lid and gilded interior, and striker on the base, and a connecting ring so it could be attached to a fob chain. The case is good quality and in remarkably good condition, we think this was preserved by the owner and not used, many vesta cases of this period were well used and condition is often poor. The case is engraved on one side with a flag and "VIII" for 8th Division, the other side is engraved "S. AFRICA 1900 from L.R". The vesta case and lid are both clearly hallmarked for London 1900, and makers mark HBA for John Batson & Sons, who worked between 1851 and 1936, they were noted as "Army accoutrement makers" - source John Culme, Gold & Silversmiths, page 34. General Sir Leslie Rundle GCB, GCMG, GCVO, DSO (1856-1934) was a British Army General in the Boer War and First World War, whe...

A pair of rare Old English Feather Edge and Cartouche silver tablespoons, made by William Pinder in 1771. The spoons are lovely quality and in excellent condition, we really like these spoons. The cartouche has been chased and engraved by hand, you can see small differences between the 2, notably the size and orientation of the scroll underneath. The cartouches are engraved with a family crest, a Griffin's head erased, this is the family crest of the Nalder Family (Fairbairns crests). Whilst Old English Feather Edge is a common pattern, the addition of the Cartouche, first produced around 1770 by Thomas Northcote, is rare (Silver Flatware, Ian Pickford, page 105). The pattern was revived late 19th century by Carrington, who called it Carrington Shield. The hallmarks are bottom marked, and include clear makers mark WP, with the W and P co-joined for William Pinder, who worked from Bunhill road between 1770 and 1784 (Grimwade page 624). The crowned leopards head and lion passant are partially worn but still cle...

A magnificent pair of Arts & Crafts silver Apostle spoons, made by George Henry Hart of the Guild of Handicraft. The spoons are clearly made by hand, with cast finials and hand hammered bowl, with clearly visible hammer marks. The quality of these spoons is fabulous, we love them! The spoons have a stylised beaded rattail, quite unusual, but a lovely feature. The Apostle figure wears a hooded cowl, and has his hands crossed in front of his body. The figure sits on a traditional hexagonal seal top, the stem of the spoon is rounded. The hallmarks on both spoons are very clear, including makers mark "GofH", (without Ltd, in use between 1900 and 1908). The Guild of Handicraft went into liquidation in 1908, the business was continued by George Henry Hart, who designed these spoons, possibly for Prinknash Abbey. The business is still operating today, and run by Julian Hart, great grandson of George Hart (see www.hartsilversmiths.co.uk), in the beautiful village of Chipping Campden, well worth a visit. We rec...

An antique silver nutcracker, quite a rare item as nutcrackers are usually silver plate, occasionally with silver handles, this example is solid silver, so quite an extravagance in it's day. The nutcracker is the usual form, with 2 handles connected with an extremely strong hinge, the arms are reversible, so can be turned around to accommodate different sized nuts. The cracking portion is oval in shape, with textured sides to hold nut firmly in place, with rectangular hole to allow shell to pass through. The handles are rounded, with balls on the ends. These are good quality nutcrackers, quite heavy at just under 200 grammes, and very suitable for use. Both arms and the hinge are clearly hallmarked. William Comyns & Sons was an important firm of manufacturing silversmiths, established in 1859, they supplied many of the leading retailers, including Tiffany, Thornhills of New Bond Street, and Carringtons, Wilson & Gill and Goldsmiths & Silversmiths of Regent Street (Culme, Directory of Gold and Silversmiths, pa...

A collection of 10 sterling silver souvenir spoons, all from a different British town. The spoons were made in Birmingham, London, Chester and Sheffield, with dates ranging from 1893 to 1919. All 10 spoons have clear hallmarks. The 10 include: 1. Ripon, Birmingham 1912, Levi & Salaman, crest in bowl 2. Bideford, Chester 1906, John Millward Banks with flower trademark, engraved Bediiforde 1577 Sicillun Comvne De 3. Brighton, Birmingham 1918, Levi & Salaman, engraved In Deo Fidemus 4. Scarborough, Birmingham 1905, Levi & Salaman 5. Canterbury, Birmingham 1901, Turnbull Brothers, Cathedral in bowl 6. Oxford, Birmingham 1911, gilded armorial in bowl 7. Manchester Ship Canal, Sheffield 1893, Henry Wigfull, gilded armorial in bowl, cast handle with Navigation & Commerce 8. Unknown town, London 1899, Saunders & Shepherd, cast floral handle, lovely quality 9. Unknown town, Birmingham 1908, Joseph Cook & Sons 10. Oxford University, Sheffield 1919, Joseph Rodgers Note- The earlier spoons pre 1900 are notic...

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...

A unique set of 12 Hanoverian teaspoons, six of which are shellbacks, the other six are scrollbacks. These spoons predate the common practise of making and selling flatware in sets, complete sets are extremely rare. As is usual of the period, these spoons only have 2 hallmarks, the sterling and makers mark, which given the small size of the spoons were often poorly struck. The makers mark is present on all spoons but discernable on only 8, with 5 being by Charles Hougham (one set of 3 and another set of 2), and one each by Hester Bateman, Ebernezer Coker and Thomas Devonshire & William Watkins. Nine spoons have contempory initials, and 2 have a later crest.

Typical early Georgian small octagonal caster by a well known maker. Thomas Bamford was a specialist caster maker, whose apprentices included Samuel Wood, who also became a prolific specialist caster maker. Bamford's address was the interestingly named Gutter Lane. The caster is clearly hallmarked, both on the base and on the sleeve of the lid.

Two very small Victorian silver vinaigrettes, both very dainty, very similar to S 1697, these are delightful boxes given their detail and size (half the size of usual vinaigrettes). The first is 1842 by Francis Clark, it is rectangular with tartan engraving, and a vacant cartouche for crest or initials. the grille has an attractive floral pattern, the interior gilding is good with some mild oxidation. The hallmarks are good on both base and lid, the grille is hallmarked as well. The second is 1866 by Frederick Marson, rectangular with engine turned engraving and vacant cartouche, this also has a silver ring attachment. The grille has a a floral engraved design, the piercing is random. The gilding is excellent, the hallmarks on lid, base and grille also very clear. Francis Clark was a specialist Birmingham toy maker who worked between 1827 and 1849, his boxes are well regarded, he also served as magistrate. He emigrated to Australia (Adelaide) with his family in 1850 for family health reasons, and established ...

An antique silver picture frame, in Art Nouveau form, depicting 3 farm workers in the fields cutting hay with scythes, with a village church in the background, with the motto "Peace hath her victories, Milton". The quote by Milton (1608-1674) apparently in a letter to Lord General Cromwell, is the first line of a sonnet "Peace hath her victories, no less renowned than war". This line is amongst the most remembered of Milton's work. The hallmarks are small but clear, and the frame also has a registration number (to protect the design being copied). This frame has a new black velvet backing professionally done, the original velvet backings on these antique picture frames is often in very poor condition. With the new backing, this frame is suitable for daily use and display.

A lovely and early George II double lipped punch ladle, with twisted whalebone handle, of extremely good quality. It is a good gauge and weight, much heavier than many we have seen. The bowl is fluted and is a generous size, and is joined to the handle with a double scroll. The base of the ladle is engraved "G over J+E", the engraving is contemporary and done by hand. The hallmarks are clear, and include the unregistered makers mark EA (Grimwade 3534) with 2 dots above and 1 below. Whalebone was heated under pressure with steam until malleable, and then twisted into ornate spirals, which hardened and retained their design after cooling (Helliwell, Collecting Small Silverware, pg 76). Aldridge worked between 1724 and 1765 in Foster Lane. He was tried at the investigation of the Goldsmith's Company for counterfeiting marks in 1742, but was acquitted by the jury (Grimwade pg 421).