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...
A delightful silver whistle in full working order, it emits a piercing and loud whistle (which certainly attracted attention when we tested it!). The whistle is engraved with scrolling foliage, and has a ring and link to allow it to be suspended from a chain or chatelaine. The hallmarks are very clear. This would make a lovely and functional pendant on a silver necklace. William John Hutchinson worked between 1900 and 1929.
A lovely Edwardian Christening set, comprising of a replica rattail trefid spoon with ribbed rattail, very distinct notches, with matching fork, in original box. Both have very clear hallmarks. Francis Higgins was a specialist spoon and fork maker, who carried a hammer with him in the workshop to destroy any work not up to his standards (Culme, Gold and Silversmiths). He also commented "it should last more than a lifetime, boy" - he would have been proud of this pair. Higgins supplied leading dealers, including Hunt & Roskell and Garrard, this set was retailed by Mappin & Webb of Oxford Street.
A Scottish Provincial Fiddle pattern soup ladle, with exceptionally clear and distinct hallmarks, deeply struck with no wear - these hallmarks are rare. The ladle is a good gauge, very solid, and fit for use, and is engraved with the initial I in contempory style. The bowl has a good shape, with raised edges, a feature of earlier ladles. The hallmarks are makers mark CF, ELGIN, cathedral wall and St Giles. The cathedral hallmark represents the west front of Elgin Cathedral Church (Jackson, pg 601), St Giles is its patron saint. The detail of the hallmarks is very good, with windows, door, double roof and battlements visible in the cathedral, and cloak, nimbus, staff and book visible in St Giles. Charles Fowler worked from 1809-1824, most of his silver is marked ELN (as opposed to ELGIN in full), the combination with the cathedral wall and St Giles is scarce.
A silver figure depicting "The Trusty Servant" of Winchester College, one of the oldest and most prestigious of English public schools. The figure is well engraved, with lovely detail. A picture of the Trusty Servant hangs in the kitchen of Winchester College. The figure is dressed in Windsor uniform and wig, and has a pigs head, donkey ears, padlocked jaw, deers feet, sword and collection of household implements. These refer to "desirable attributes of a servant", padlocked jaw (to keep secrets), stags feet (swift errands), household implements (to work hard) and sword (to protect master). We are not sure what the figure was intended for (it has no stand or attachments), but is probably intended as a bookmark, or could be added to a trophy or adapted as menu holder.
A delightfully decorative chamberstick, realistically modelled as a flower bud, stem and leaves, one of the finest chambersticks we have seen. The flower stem forms the ring grip, and the bud holds the candle, and the pan is octagonal. It is beautifully made and decorated, and is very good quality - truly the work of master craftsmen. Chambersticks were traditionally used to light your way to bed at night. The Angell's are described by Pickford as "very fine 19th century family of goldsmiths" (Jackson's Hallmarks). The hallmarks are clear, and include the duty mark of William IV (even though Victoria was already on the throne), indicating this piece was made between 29 May and 20 June 1837. Both the pan and one of the leaves are hallmarked, even the silver wingnut underneath is hallmarked. The makers mark is poorly struck and only partially visible, but sufficient can be seen to leave no doubt as to the makers identification.
A matching set of crested Georgian silver flatware, including 12 tablespoons, 2 sauce ladles, 2 saltspoons and butterknife, all of very good gauge and quality. The pattern is Fiddle and Thread, and all pieces have an interesting double crest, indicating a marriage between 2 noble families. The first crest is of a head and shoulders of a bearded man with unruly hair, the second a raised fist holding a halbeard. The saltspoons have gilded bowls to prevent corrosion. The butterknife is a later addition to the set (made in 1895), and only has the bearded man crest. The makers mark on the butterknife has been removed, possibly to allow the retailer to overstamp. Chawner was a prolific spoonmaker, he ran a large workshop of journeymen, whose individual marks can be seen on the spoons (devices include stars, bars, circles and triangles).
A delightful pair of Cape silver Konfyt forks, in the rare Fiddle and Shell pattern. The forks also have a bevelled edge, and are single struck. Fiddle and Shell pattern is scarce (Pickford, Silver Flatware), Cape silver in this pattern is very rare. The hallmarks on both forks are very clear, being makers mark MLS between 2 Fleur de Lys. Smith was a Dane who arrived in the Cape in 1757. He married 4 times, had 10 children, and died in 1806 (Welz, Cape Silver).
A set of 6 Art Nouveau silver buttons, with a typical Art Nouveau style female head with long flowing hair. The detail is good, and the hallmarks are clear on all 6 buttons. The buttons are still in their original fitted case, which is intact and in working order, but scuffed on the outside and faded and worn in the interior.
A fine example of a Scottish Georgian Silver toddy ladle, by very fine makers. The ladle is Fiddle pattern, and is engraved with the initial C, in contempory style. Toddy ladles are uniquely Scottish, used for that "wee dram" of spirits, but also suitable as sauce ladles. The hallmarks are very clear and detailed (the tree, fish and bell in the Glasgow town mark are all visible), an additional "star" journeymans mark is also present. Robert Gray and Sons of Glasgow produced "some of the finest British silver of the period" (Walter Brown, Finial, June 2006). Silver by Gray can be found with both Glasgow and Edinburgh marks, as between 1784 and 1819 the Glasgow assay office was closed.
An interesting Art Deco cigarette case by Louis Kuppenheim of Pforzheim, Germany, regarded as one of Germany's leading Art Deco silversmiths. The case has a lovely ribbed design, and the clasp is set with an attractive dark blue sapphire cabochon. The interior is gilt. The case is extremely good quality, and has a pleasing weight, and is in the higher grade 900 silver. The case is engraved with a fascinating World War 1 inscription "Major J.D.S. Lloyd, OBE, MC, etc. A reminder of pleasant and unpleasant days spent together and appreciation of many little acts of kindness and help during the advance from Ypres - Waterloo 1918, J.C.W." The hallmarks include makers mark LK (in fancy script), the crown and moon of Germany, and 900 fineness mark.
A Georgian silver sifter spoon in the Old English Bright-Cut Edge pattern, with bottom marked hallmarks indicating a date pre 1777. The bowl has a lovely ornate floral piercing, and a flat base (as expected from original sifters). The Bright-Cut Edge pattern was popular between 1790 and 1800 (Pickford, Silver Flatware, pg 102), so we assume the sifter was updated in style then. John Lambe was a specialist spoonmaker, he worked between 1762 and 1796. His makers mark I*L in oval punch is clear, the lion passant and crowned leopards head are worn but visible, the date letter is very worn but could possibly be the "a" of 1776.
Bright cut helmet shaped cream jug with beaded rim and square base, very typical of the period. Clear hallmarks, with evidence hallmarks were applied before the bright cut engraving. Cartouche has initials engraved on it. Very interesting makers name!