An extremely rare miniature silver coffee pot by the Huguenot John Hugh Le Sage, subordinate goldsmith to the King. The coffee pot is early Rococo style, with relief chasing of flowers and scrolls around the base and border below the cover. As is expected with early Rococo (1740 - 1750), large areas are left blank, only after 1750 did full Rococo develop which filled in the blanks. The swan neck spout is leaf wrapped, and the wooden handle has a typical double C scroll. The lid, which is richly decorated, has a stepped dome cover and acorn finial. The pot also has a tucked in base and stand-away hinge. The only hallmarks are the makers mark (script JS underneath crown) struck 3 times on the base (Grimwade 1680, Jacksons pg 192). As per the plate act of 1739, silver toys were exempted from assay, and only required the makers mark. A number of silver toys have been attributed to John Hugh Le Sage, many of which today reside in museums, including the Henry Ford Museum (USA) and the Victoria & Albert Museum (V&...

A magnificent and rare early Brittania standard silver coffee pot of very good quality, with handle at right angles to the spout, in the Queen Anne style. The pot has a high domed lid with baluster finial, a stand-away hinge, and an octagonal swan neck spout with "Ducks Head" terminal.The pot itself is the tapering plain cylindrical shape with spreading foot, and the handle is turned fruitwood. The coffee pot is plain except for a lovely contemporary armorial, a diamond shaped logenze surrounded by plumes, with the arms of Newdigate (gules three lion's gambs erased argent) impaling a lion rampant reguardant gules. The logenze indicates ownership by a widow of the Newdigate family, as the lozenge is the only vehicle for a widow to display her arms. This plain style is usually called Queen Anne, the shape of coffee pots changed circa 1723, when the lid became flattened and the spout moved opposite the handle (Judith Banister, 3 Centuries of Silver Coffee Pots). As is usual for coffee pots of this era, it is qu...

A very rare Victorian silver Straight Tudor pattern flatware set, made by Chawner & Co, the leading flatware maker of Victorian England. The spoons and forks are fabulous quality, and are in excellent condition. The Straight Tudor pattern is a Gothic Revival pattern, it omits 2 small scroll circular projections on each side of the stem, this differentiates it from the "Tudor" pattern. All 48 pieces are clearly hallmarked, they also carry the British Registry design number and date chart diamond, which rarely occurs on silver flatware - class I for metal, date letter v for 1850, and R 14 indicating 14 August. The presence of the design mark indicates that Chawner registered the design to protect it from being copied. Straight Tudor is described by Pickford (Silver Flatware page 149) as "a rare 19th century Chawner & Co design which appears in their pattern book (page 219), registered August 14th 1850, along with Tudor. Services and pieces are rare, building a service would be extremely difficult". The Tudor ...

A magnificent Elkington silver salver, of very generous proportions, circular with a cast border decorated with 4 faces (the 4 seasons), and an elaborate shell and scroll border. The salver is exceptional quality and weight, weighing 4.65 kilogrammes (164 ounces), so this is a very large and heavy salver. The salver rests on 8 shell feet (4 double feet). It has very clear hallmarks, and is also stamped "Elkington & Co, 31921", which is probably a pattern number. The four faces are as follows: 1. Old man with flowing beard 2. Young woman with wheat sheaves 3. Young woman with roses 4. Young woman with vines and grapes. The border is cast, as can be seen in the photograph of the back of the rim.

A fabulous near pair of cast silver gilt figural candlesticks, modelled as Roman's in togas with laurel wreaths, made by the Fox Brothers, Charles and George, important makers known for their figural pieces. The Roman figures are beautifully modelled, note the detail in the face, hair and toga folds, one arm holds the sconce, the other is raised, with the bent knee they almost appear to be dancing. The figures stand on a cast silver Rococo base, also finely decorated with swirling scrolls, incorporating a vacant cartouche for engraving of a family crest (both vacant). The sconces with acanthus leaf decoration and the original detachable nozzles (for ease of cleaning) are also all cast silver, the quality is outstanding, these would have been expensive items when new. Both the figures are securely fastened to their bases with their original bolts and screws, one is slightly loose. The quality of the gilding is also superb, with very little wear, these figures with come to life in candlelight. On close examinat...

A rare Carolean silver flat lidded tankard, made in London in 1668, which was part of Oxford's University Magdalen College silver plate. The tankard is the traditional shape of the period, tapering cylindrical with reeded borders, the flat lid with single step and single peak (lip). The flat hinge and hinge plates are cast, designed to withstand wear and tear. The thumbpiece is a double cusp. The massive scroll handle has underside curved into a half round, with hole, these handles were made in two pieces (myth has it that the hole was a whistle to call for more beer!, Waldron, Price Guide to Antique Silver, item 620, page 196). The tankard has been later engraved with the Magdalen College armorial, it reads "Magd: Coll: Athletic Sports, March 1861", and the lid is engraved with a wheatsheaf between wings armorial, the engraving is excellent quality and is beautifully preserved. The tankard has a full set of hallmarks on lid and base, Leopards head crowned and lion passant in irregular punch, date letter L fo...

A magnificent set of 4 early Georgian cast scallop shell dishes, with "curled" handles, the ends "rolled over" to form a double scroll grip, in the manner of Onslow pattern flatware. The use of scallop shells is the subject of some argument, they have long been called "butter shells", but have also been described as "oyster scallops", salts, sweetmeat and sauce dishes (Judith Bannister, "Scallop Shells in English Silver, Collectors Guide, June 1967"). They are in the style of Paul de Lamerie, who popularised these in the 1730's, so much so that other makers followed suit. The shells are realistically cast, roughly life size and rest on 3 dolphin feet, also cast, in keeping with the marine theme. Each shell is also engraved with a family crest, a Maltese cross over a crescent, surrounded by branches. The shells are exceptional quality, they are solid and heavy, and the detail on both shells and dolphins is good. The hallmarks are visible but given the curved shape of the shell are not well struck, and are worn...

An important Royal silver brandy saucepan, which was given by Queen Victoria to her grandson Prince Christian Victor (Christle) of Schleswig-Holstein in 1868 as a christening present. The quality of the saucepan is excellent, it is the usual bulbous shape with a spout and turned ivory handle. It has a detachable domed lid, with a hinged projection for covering the spout, and an ivory and silver finial. The interior is gilt, it sits on a raised foot and has the traditional heart shaped join between body and handle. The saucepan and lid are both decorated with scrolling foliage and flowers, which is beautifully engraved. The lid fits snugly, the hinge is excellent, and the handle and finial are firmly secure. The saucepan is engraved "From his Grandmama Victoria R, 14 April 1868" on the front, the back has a scrolling foliate cartouche with the engraved initials "CV" below a coronet. The hallmarks are very clear, and are accompanied by the number 113 struck into the base (perhaps a pattern number?). The base al...