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 novelty pincushion of a chick, with original pincushion intact, and generally in very good condition. The chick is realistically modelled with fine detail and is good quality, as is usual for items made by Sampson Mordan. The hallmarks are very clear, including makers mark SM&Co.
A Victorian silver miniature replica of a porringer, probably intended as a toy. The porringer is typical 17th century style, with gadrooned and punched dot decoration, and scrolling handles. Daniel and John Wellby specialised in fine copies of early pieces (Pickford, Jackson's Hallmarks). The hallmarks are clear with the exception of the makers mark, which is partially worn but still identifiable.
A typical Cape silver konfyt (preserve) fork with 3 tines, in the Old English pattern, with traditional Cape engraved decoration, consisting of crude stars and a zig-zag pattern which extends all the way to the tines. The makers mark IL is very clear. Jan Lotter, who was regarded by Heller as "a highly skilled craftsman", only worked for 4 years between 1813 and 1817, so he probably died young. He made most of the prized Cape silver "lemoenlepels" (orange spoons) known to exist today.
A Liberty Cymric silver matchbox holder, set with a single cabochon of turquoise, typical of the designer Archibald Knox for Liberty. The hallmarks are clear, although the makers mark is only partially visible, but clearly identifiable as Liberty. This box is not stamped "Cymric", although it undoubtably belongs to the Cymric range.
Delightful Gorham Sterling nursery rhyme plate, with embossed pictures depicting scenes from nursery rhymes around the rim. Rhymes depicted include "the cat and the fiddle", "the cow jumped over the moon", "sing a song of sixpence", "4 and 20 blackbirds" and some we haven't identified (teapot, cock, spoon and bowl, teacup and rose, wolf). 31 pictures are present, with 9 different designs, repeated in a random fashion. The plate is very good quality, the embossing is superb, with very fine detail. The plate is engraved on the back "J.M.W., X mas 1885" - indicating it was a Christmas present. The initials "W.W.S." in different script are below, we assume a later owner. The hallmarks are very clear, the Gorham trademarks (Lion, Anchor and capital G), along with "Sterling" and "L93" (L is the yearmark for 1879). This beautiful antique silver Gorham plate would make an ideal Christening present. This plate is depicted in the book "Gorham Silver 1831-1981", by Charles Carpenter, pg 212, which is shown with a matchi...
A Tiffany silver bleeding bowl, with flat pierced handle, in the traditional style. This bowl is very good quality, as you would expect from Tiffany. Bleeding bowls (known as porringers in the USA) were used extensively in the 17th century, different themes abound as to their use. Today they are often used as wine tasters, which is probably what this bowl was intended for. The base is stamped "Tiffany & Co, Sterling, 383". They are also popular as Christening gifts.
A very fine silver samorodok cigarette case, of extremely good quality. Samorodok is a technique that produces a beautifully textured nugget like effect on the surface, that resembles tree bark. It is achieved by heating the silver to a temperature just below melting point, then cooling it abruptly in water. It is a very difficult technique to master, so samorodok is quite rare. Most examples extant today are of Russian origin, many by notable makers like Faberge. The case was produced in Turku, Finland, in 1955, by the makers M&N (we welcome assistance with identification of this makers mark). Turku is a medieval city, noted for its fine goldsmiths, and is Finland's oldest city. The hallmarks are clear, makers mark, Finland National mark, 813H purity mark, Turku town mark, and date letter B7 for 1955. We have been advised that makers mark M&N is for Miettinen & Nurmi, established 1945. They changed their name to Turun Hopea in the late 1960's.
A rare Liberty Cymric toothbrush, with silver handle set with two turquoise cabochons, and wooden (ebony) toothbrush set with bristles. The hallmarks are clear, including L&Co makers mark, but the CYMRIC mark is not present (as is usual on small items). This toothbrush matches the Liberty Cymric vanity set (S1360).
An interesting pair of circular trencher salts, made to commemorate the coronation of Edward VII in 1902 by Elkington. The quality is superb, and they are a good weight. The salts are an exact replica of Carolean salts made in 1684, engraved "Ex Dono Edw Norman 1684" (donation of Edward Norman 1684). They have star crests, presumably that of the donor, and the crest of the "Worshipful Company of Innkeepers" (St Juliens cross sable and chevron between 3 oatsheaves) on the other side. The company, whcih still exists today, was created in 1514. The company has the original salts (a set of 12) and presumably commissioned the replicas to commemorate the coronation. The original salts are described in the article "The Old English Silver of the Innholders Company, London" by Arthur Butler (The Connoisseur Illustrated Vol 1 pg 236, Sept - Dec 1901). Butler believes they deserve "special distinction", due to their "graceful shape". The top of both salts are engraved "Edward VII, 1902", and the base is engraved 101 and...
A Scottish Provincial sterling silver brooch from Aberdeen, with a silver rim surrounding a polished oval pink granite. Aberdeen is known as the "Granite City", with its' building stone quarried from Rubislaw Quarry. The brooch is hallmarked with makers mark R&S and ABD, the unofficial Aberdeen town mark. Rettie and Son worked between 1824 and 1892, and are well known for their jewellery with the local granite (Benjamin, Antique Jewellery, page 92). The book "Aberdeen Silver, A Collectors Guide, Michael Wilson, pg 56, describes Rettie & Sons as "famous for silver and granite jewellery" Wilson also explains that the salmon pink granite used in this brooch is from the Corrennie Quarry, granite from Rubislaw is grey (pg 14).
A Cape silver Basting spoon in the Old English pattern, of good gauge, very suitable for use. Whilst the spoon is Old English pattern, the drop is definitely not English in style, it has a European flavour (which shows the different influences on Cape Silversmiths of the time). The hallmarks are very clear, makers mark WGL struck twice, and the inverted L device used by Lotter (mark 95 in Welz). The Lotter family are important in the history of Cape silver, with 12 members of the family known to have produced silver. Willem Godfried, who made this spoon, worked from 1810 - 1835, and is known for good quality work.
A set of six silver teaspoons with enamel finials, 3 with a swimmer and 3 with a motorcyclist. The teaspoons have an attractive stem, and all 6 are fully hallmarked on the back of the bowl, and all are stamped "England". The enamels were hand painted, as the details on each differ slightly. We can only guess as to their origin, perhaps a special commission for a family involved in both sports.
A lovely late Victorian American Sterling silver hand mirror, by the highly regarded Gorham company. The mirror is embossed in deep relief with roses, with very fine detail. The quality is exceptional, this is a lovely item, a real work of art by a master craftsman. The hallmarks are clear, the Gorham Lion, Anchor and Gothic G, "Sterling" and date letter O.
A sterling silver caddy spoon, with the engraved crest of the Royal Mint of Pretoria. The spoon is good quality, a pleasing weight and the crest is very clear. The Royal Mint of Pretoria was opened in 1923 as a branch of the Royal Mint of London. It broke ties with London in 1941, becoming the South African Mint. The Royal Mint of Pretoria branch was one of 6 Royal Mint branches, the others in Canada (Ottawa), Australia (Sydney, Melbourne and Perth) and India (Bombay). The Pretoria Mint produced British gold sovereigns between 1923 and 1932, these carry the SA mint mark. The caddy spoon hallmarks are clear, being 925, silver and RMP makers mark. We assume the spoon was made in 1923 to commemorate the opening of the Mint. Note: - We now have another example of this Royal Mint Pretoria caddy spoon available, please enquire
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.
An extremely rare and unusual Cape silver Napkin (serviette) holder. The holder has an arm that hooks into a buttonhole, and a clamp that is opened or closed with a sliding ring. The clamp end is decorated in a very crude shell, and the sliding ring is crudely banded. This item could be unique, made by special commission, as none of the Cape silver reference books describe napkin holders. The hallmark is very clear (DBD between two stars, mark 44 in Welz). Dominique Badouin du Moulin was a Belgian from Mons (Bergen), who worked as a silversmith in the Cape between 1818 and 1833 (Welz, Cape Silver). He married the sister of silversmith Jan Beyleveld.
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.
Magnificent pair of Arts and Crafts spoons by Sibyl Dunlop, one of the leading female practitioners of the Arts and Crafts movement. The spoons are in the shape and style of 16th century spoons, with fig shaped bowl, hexagonal stem and shaped finials. The spoons are cast, with hand hammered bowls, and have a cast finial that resembles a pineapple with scrolls on either side, resting on 3 rings. A furrow runs down the front end of the shaft of each spoon. These spoons are very good quality, with pleasing weight, lovely to hold and use. The hallmarks on both spoons are very clear, including the SD makers mark. Dunlop (1889-1968) was born in Scotland, trained as a jewellery designer in Brussels, and opened a shop in Kensington Street, London. She specialised in Arts and Crafts silver and jewellery, often naturalistic in style. These spoons have been depicted and described in the book "Artists' Spoons" by Simon Moore, page 383, where they are described as "finely crafted, in classical mood (15/16th century) with ...
A set of 6 teaspoons and matching jamspoon in original box, designed to commemorate the inauguration of the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria on 16 December 1949. The front of the spoons have the Boer oxwagon wheel and powder horns, along with the Zulu shield and assegaai (spear). The rear has an outline of the Voortrekker Monument, with inscription "1949 SVK UWB". These spoons are good quality, with cast design. SVK stands for Sentrale Volksmonumente Komitee (Central Peoples Monument Committee) which was formed in 1931, with the aim to build a monument to honour the Voortrekkers (Pioneers) who left the Cape Colony in 1835. The spoons were sold to assist raising funds for the building of the monument, which cost GBP 350000. The hallmarks are clear on all spoons. The spoons were designed by the famous South African artist W.H. Coetzer, the original design is in MuseumAfrika in Johannesburg, and depicted in " Catalogue of Pictures in the Africana Museum", vol 6, pg 157, C1113. Willem Hermanus Coetzer also design...
