A beautiful Arts and Crafts silver dish, with planished hand hammered surface, by Leslie Durbin. The dish is oval in shape, and sits on an oval reeded foot, the 2 ends have a slight overlap, it is a lovely shape. The dish is excellent quality, and quite heavy, it is a pleasure to pick up. The hallmarks are clear, and include makers mark LGD for Leslie Durbin. Leslie Durbin was one of the most admired silversmiths of the 20th century, his silver is in the Royal collection, he was also honoured with a 1 man exhibition at the Goldsmiths hall entitled "50 Years of Silversmithing" in 1982. He produced the silver components for the Stalingrad Sword during WW II, he also designed British coinage. He apprenticed with Omar Ramsden, his students included Benney, Mellor and Robert Welsh. Durbin is included as one of the top 50 British silversmiths of his era in the book "Designer British Silver 1930-1985", pgs 186-193, by Andrew & Pearson, a book we highly recommend.

A fabulous pair of cast silver mustard pots, realistically modelled as dragons, with the head resting on the lid, and coiled body forming the pot, with barbed tail forming the handle. The back of the dragon's head acts as a thumb piece, the hinged lids open to reveal clear glass liners for holding the mustard (or other condiments). These are substantial items, they weigh over 350 grammes each without the liners, the quality is superb. The bodies were cast in 2 separate sections, the solder join is visible on the interior. The hallmarks are excellent on both pieces, the lids are hallmarked as well. We have not encountered this model before, it is possible they were specially commissioned and as such are unique. C.J. Vander was established in 1886 by Cornelius Joshua VanderPump, the firm became "the last of England's preeminent silver firms, creating exceptional silver masterpieces using the time-honored traditions of the silversmith's art. It was this firm's steadfast commitment to quality that made them the ...

A fabulous early Georgian (George II) silver sauce boat, one of the best we have seen. The sauce boat is an exceptional size and quality, tipping the scales at 492 grammes (17.4 ounces), and is wider and shallower than later examples. The sauce boat has Rococo decoration, with engraved swirling shells, flowers and scrolls, it also has an intricate diamond pattern which is also hand engraved. The 3 cast shell feet are also fabulous, with a scroll between shell foot and shell attachment. The leaf capped double scroll handle has also been cast and applied. The sauce boat has a Rococo family armorial (3 wheat sheaves and a cross) on one side and a family crest on the other, consisting of a lion rampant holding 2 wheat stalks. The Sable a cross potent is the Alleyn family, in this case the arms of the wife, we have not yet identified the arms of the husband. It may possibly be the Lidsel family from Essex, Gules three garbs argent. This sauce boat is accompanied with the Heraldic report identifying the Alleyn fami...

A very rare and well preserved slip top spoon, of good gauge, by one of the "First Fifteen" London spoonmakers as identified by Tim Kent (London Silver Spoonmakers, 1500-1697). The slip top is engraved "BB, Feb 13, 1632", in a very attractive fashion, so probably was a Christening present. The spoon has a curved fig shaped bowl, and tapered hexagonal stem, ending in the slipped end. The bowl is hallmarked with crowned leopards head, the base of the stem with makers mark "D enclosing C" for Daniel Cary, alongside a well struck lion passant, and date letter O for 1631, struck at the end of the stem, as is usual during this period. The stem is attached to the bowl with a very stubby and rough rat tail, also usual for the period. This is a lovely spoon, and has a very good feel about it, I am tempted to use it (but have resisted!). A very similar spoon to this by Daniel Cary was sold in the Alexander James Collection of Early English Spoons, by Phillips in 1979. Lot 36 (pg 55), shows a slip top spoon made by Dani...

An extremely rare child's puritan spoon, dating back to the Commonwealth period, when Oliver Cromwell was Lord Protector of England. The spoon has a flat stem with straight sides, and a curved spade shaped bowl. The spoon also has a small V shaped drop. The puritan spoon replaced the slip-top spoon (with hexagonal stem and fig shaped bowl) during the early Commonwealth period, and gained it's name from Cromwell's Puritan soldiers opposed to King Charles I, who considered the more elaborate Apostle spoons "irreverant" (Gask, Old Silver Spoons of England, pg 92). Given that so much silver was melted down during and after the English civil war, Puritan spoons are rare, and the smaller children's puritan spoons are extremely rare. A very similar spoon to this, described as "Rare Charles I child's puritan spoon, 1646, exhibited in Cardiff Museum" was sold as lot 35 of the famous "Alexander James Collection of Early English Silver Spoons", Phillips 1979, with an estimate of GBP 500-600. Steven Venables worked in L...

An extremely rare Victorian silver triple compartment stamp box, retailed by Thornhill of Bond Street. The box is a circular dish shape, with three triangular sprung lids, the design is ingenious. The lids have heart shaped plastic covered stamp covers, with original half penny, one penny and two and a half d stamps, these stamps are the 1887 Jubilee issue, securely held in place from behind with red wax seals. The centre has a triangular polished green hardstone which anchors the 3 hinges. Three silver wire work scrolls decorate the top between the lids, these match the 3 wire work scroll feet. Each lid has a shaped thumb piece for easy opening. The 3 interior compartments are gilded. The quality and feel of this stamp box is excellent, one of the best we have encountered. The base is engraved "W Thornhill & Co. Ltd. 144 New Bond St W.", Thornhill was the retailer. The base is clearly hallmarked, as is each of the 3 lids, the interior gilded compartment is also hallmarked - the makers mark Gy&Co appears 5 ti...

A fabulous set of 4 cast Britannia (950 grade) silver candlesticks with 2 matching detachable two light candelabra, which slot into the candlesticks. The candlesticks are octagonal with diamond facets, with the stems and sconces conforming in outline with the bases, a "pleasing and balanced design" (Peter Waldron, Price Guide to Antique Silver, No 115, pg 52). These are reproductions of a very popular Queen Anne style, made circa 1710, described as "the most desirable of Queen Anne candlesticks (Waldron, as above). The candlesticks are cast, and are exceptional quality, weighing around 530 grammes each (these are not loaded, total set weight 3.064 kilogrammes, or 108 ounces). The candlesticks have no engraving or armorials, and nothing has been removed. The two detachable 2 light candelabra slot perfectly into all 4 candlesticks, so quite a versatile set. They follow the same design as the candlesticks, with the addition of octagonal drip pans. The 2 candelabra were hallmarked in 1930 (so slightly before th...

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...

A Charles I silver seal top communion spoon, which has holes in the bowl for straining communion wine. The seal top has the original initials "C over A=L", which is quite crudely engraved. The baluster seal top has traces of gilding, and is attached with a V-shaped joint, as is usual with London spoons. The hexagonal stem is tapered, joined to the bowl with a small rat tail. The fig shaped bowl is quite deep, and has been punched with holes in 3 concentric circles. The bowl is struck with the crowned leopard's head, the crown is clear, but the face is worn. The 3 hallmarks on the stem are clear, and include sterling lion, date letter B for 1639 and maker's mark D enclosing C for Daniel Cary. Cary was a prolific spoon maker. He worked between 1604 and 1639, he died in 1641. Cary is one of the "First Fifteen London spoon makers 1580 - 1697" As identified by Tim Kent in his book "London Silver Spoonmakers", which we highly recommend. Steven Venables, another notes spoon maker, was one of Cary's appren...

An important piece of Boer War memorabilia, celebrating the relief of Mafeking. A piecrust salver with beaded border and scrolled engraving. The hallmarks are clear, makers mark BB, possibly Barker Brothers. The salver has the crest of the Imperial Light Horse (ILH), which was raised in Johannesburg by English speaking South Africans to fight as part of the "Uitlander Army", on the side of the British during the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902). The crest has 2 crossed flags (Union Jack and Transvaal Republic). The inscription reads " Officers Patrol, who rode with Major Karri Davies into Mafeking on the night of May 16th 1900. J Dryden, AB Duirs, EW Warby, J Emerton, LM Harvey, G Seymour, HF Francis, EA Betton. Presented to HF Francis by Major Karri Davies." Major Davies was 2IC of the ILH, and was quite a character. He was a key participant of the Jameson Raid, and spent time in prison after its disasterous end. This salver commemorates his leading the first English contingent into Mafeking, thus ending the si...

A rare and interesting Victorian silver vesta case, with an enamelled Malta Blue twopence halfpenny stamp, used between 1885 and 1890. The vesta itself is rectangular in shape, with striker in base, and silver ring attachment (for attachment to Albert chain). The vesta is hallmarked in the usual place, along the inside top rim, with Lion Passant, anchor, date letter P (only in use from May to July 1890, after the duty mark was retired), and partial makers mark C. in shield punch, possibly Charles Usher of Usher Manufacturing Company. This vesta previously sold at Sotheby's London in 1988, their description stated "very rare, the only example we have seen", they also described the "superb enamelled representation of the Malta 1885-90 2&half d blue".

A rare Georgian silver novelty articulated fish vinaigrette, made by William Lea & Co in Birmingham, 1817. The fish has 6 separate articulated sections, and a hinged lid (fish head) that opens to reveal an oval gilded vinaigrette, with scrolling grille which opens to reveal the gilded sponge compartment. The open mouth contains a suspensory silver ring, to allow the vinaigrette to be attached via a chain. The vinaigrette is beautifully engraved, with scales, fins and eyes, the tail and top fin are also realistically engraved. The hallmarks on the tail are very clear, the grille is also hallmarked. William Lea & Co worked between 1811 and 1825, they focused on small novelty items. A number of these fish vinaigrettes by Lea and Co are known, featuring 2 different engraving styles. An almost identical vinaigrette, also made by Lea & Co in 1817, is featured on the Bourdan Smith website (www.bourdansmith.co.uk), incorrectly described as reticulated, has very similar engraving to this one. Another example, made a y...

A rare and unusual silver gilt stirrup cup, in whip form, a later replica of one of the earliest forms of stirrup cups, prior to the rise in popularity of the better known fox and animal head stirrup cups. It consists of a small banded beaker shaped cup (3.5 cm height), suitable for sherry, on top of a long, tapered silver handle, with wonderful textured patterns for improved grip. The cup is engraved "THE DURBAN STIRRUP CUP - PRESENTED BY THE EARL OF LONSDALE IN COMMEMORATION OF THE KINDNESS RECEIVED FROM ALL DURING HIS VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA". The shield is engraved "REPLICA OF THE EARL OF LONSDALE'S STIRRUP CUP AD 1788" The handle is divided into 4 sections, separated by a protruding ring, the 3 rings are not gilded, which provides a nice contrast. The top section has alternating floral bands, the second barley-twist ribbing, the 3rd is similar to the first but with flowers reversed, the 4th a thicker barley-twist with additional texture to alternating band. The end is capped with a suspension ring, with or...

An important piece of Boer War memorabilia, celebrating the relief of Mafeking. A piecrust salver with beaded border and scrolled engraving. The hallmarks are clear, makers mark BB, for Barker Brothers. The salver has the crest of the Imperial Light Horse (ILH), which was raised in Johannesburg by English speaking South Africans to fight as part of the "Uitlander Army", on the side of the British during the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902). The crest has 2 crossed flags (Union Jack and Transvaal Republic). The inscription reads " Officers Patrol, who rode with Major Karri Davies into Mafeking on the night of May 16th 1900. J Dryden, AB Duirs, EW Warby, JE Merton, LM Harvey, G Seymour, HF Francis, EA Betton. Presented to J. Emerton by Major Karri Davies." Major Davies was 2IC of the ILH, and was quite a character. He was a key participant of the Jameson Raid, and spent time in prison after its disasterous end. This salver commemorates his leading the first English contingent into Mafeking, thus ending the siege afte...

A rare and interesting 17th century silver spice box/ vinaigrette, with a polished oval agate panel set in the lid. The box is beautifully engraved, particularly the base which has 2 birds reaching for a hanging bundle of fruit. The box in rectangular with cut corners (so octagonal in shape), the raised lid is cushion shaped, with a mounted oval of polished orange agate. The box has a protruding thumb piece for easy opening, and stand-away (protruding). The engraving is mostly scrolling foliage, with a border of acanthus leaves, the base and hinge have a diaper border. The rim has 2 sets of engraving, the first reads "EF 1711" on the front side panel, the next reads "WC 1714" on the 2 side panels. These were engraved by different hands, the second WC 1714 is much cruder than the first, which is quite charming, with cross hatching inside the letters and "double engraved" numbers, the first could have been professionally engraved, the second probably done by the new owner. The interior of the box is interestin...

A magnificent silver gilt snuffbox with a superb finely detailed battle scene. The gilding on the battle scene has different tones, the base has a deeper rich red tinge, this fades to a lighter yellow gold colour in the sky. The box is exceptional quality and a pleasing weight. The sides and rim are richly decorated with cast flowers and thistles, which leads us to believe it is possibly a Scottish battle scene (we welcome opinions!). The battle is being fought with swords, battleaxes, lances, shields, armour and horses, no sign of firearms. The detail includes a castle in the background, flags, finely detailed armour and armorials on the shield - the work of a master craftsman. The base is engine turned, and has a blank cartouche. The interior lid is engraved "Presented to Thomas Ogilvy Esqr, by the New Quay Company of Manchester, as a mark of their gratitude, for his great attention & trouble as arbiter, in the investigation of the disputed claim, made on them by Messrs Francis Philips & Sons, 1829". The en...

A fabulous sterling silver sugar basin, in the shape of a vase, made by the highly regarded French silversmith Jean-Valentin Morel, made during the brief period he was based in London. The sugar basin is octagonal in shape, with 8 curvilinear sides, 6 smaller panels on the sides and 2 larger panels on the front and back. the basin sits on a raised foot in the same shape, the basin also has bands on the top, base and three quarters way up. the end and side panels are also finely engraved with an architectural shield with scrolls flowers and foliage. The interior is gilded with original gilding, and overall the quality is excellent, Morel was certainly a master craftsman. The foot of the basin is engraved on the exterior "MOREL & Cie a LONDRES", it is quite unusual to see English silver branded in this way, especially on the exterior. The hallmarks are excellent, including makers mark J.V.M for Jean- Valentin Morel. "Jean-Valentin Morel (1794-1860) was born in Paris, the son of a lapidary. He began his career ...

A magnificent set of 4 Victorian cast silver Cherub salts, replicas of a style introduced by Paul de Lamerie. The salts have a cast vine leaf bowl, supported by a cherub with arm outstretched, and two dolphin feet supporting the bowl. These are fabulous quality, they weigh between 232 and 273 grammes each, averaging at 255 grammes each, and the condition is excellent. The cherub (also called amorini and putti, but not cupid as no wings present) is naked except for a small loincloth, he is well modelled, note the detail of his hair. The bowl is a cast vine leaf, also well modelled, and the 2 stylised dolphin feet are copies of those used by Lamerie. The salts are all solid, and stand well on the table, no wobble at all. Traces of original gilding are still visible, especially on the harder to reach areas on the body of the cherub (we imagine much of the gilding has been polished off over the years. The cherub is hollow, the casting hole visible under his bottom. One salt is clearly hallmarked on the vine leaf,...

A rare set of Old English Military Thread and Shell pattern (also called Military Shell) tablespoons, tableforks and dessertspoons (6 of each). These are good quality and weight, the forks around 89 grammes each, tablespoons 94 grammes and the dessertspoons 63. All 18 have an engraved family crest, a raised lion facing right between 2 horns. The pattern has the regular Thread and Shell pattern, double struck (on both sides), but with scrolls instead of shoulders, as with all Military variants (Pickford, Silver Flatware, page 117). Pickford describes this pattern as "a rare pattern illustrated in the Chawner & Co Pattern book, Appendix page 218", where the Chawner book shows this pattern, termed as "Military Shell". Pickford did not illustrate a photographic example of this pattern , a further indication of its rarity. The hallmarks on all 18 items are very clear, makers mark GA for George Adams of Chawner & Co, and London date letter P for 1870, the tablespoons are 1869. In addition, some pieces carry addit...

A rare Charles II Restoration period silver porringer, made by Ralph Leeke, one of the leading goldsmiths of the late 17th century, in 1669. The porringer is the traditional shape and size (noticeably larger than later examples), and is chased in high relief with a running stag and hunting hound, surrounded by bold Stuart flowers (we think daffodils and poppies), these bold flowers predate the commoner restrained acanthus decoration introduced around 1680. The porringer has the traditional cast caryatid scroll handles with faces on both sides. The flat circular base is engraved with original owners initials F/SM, the engraving has character. The porringer has 6 hallmarks on the base, crowned leopards head town mark for London, date letter Gothic M for 1669 (slight wear to top but unmistakable for 1669), Lion passant, and makers mark RL above trefoil in shaped shield struck 3 times, 2 are partially worn but still readable and 1 mark is very clear. Ralph Leeke (or Leake) has been described as "a fine 17th centu...