An amusing sterling silver wine label, with the traditional PORT engraving crossed out and replaced underneath with STARBOARD, a nautical reference to the left (port) and right (starboard) sides of a boat. The label is rectangular, with a heavy gadrooned border with 4 shell motif's, so a very traditional shape. The label is stamped, has it's original silver chain and clear hallmarks for Birmingham 1957. David Hollander & Son was established in 1908, and continued to produce silver until 1975. This name of Port being replaced by Starboard is unrecorded in the master list of wine label names in the book "Wine Labels 1730-2003".
A lovely pair of Cape silver teaspoons in the Fiddle pattern, in excellent condition and with very clear hallmarks. The spoons are clearly hand made, you can see very slight differences in the shape and size of the Fiddle and bowl shape when comparing closely. The spoons are good quality and a good weight. The spoons have no engraving with no initials removed, completely original. Both spoons are clearly hallmarked with 4 pseudo hallmarks, all struck individually in the same order - pseudo duty mark, bird, pseudo Edinburgh Castle town mark and pseudo date letter B. This is mark 134 in the book "Cape Silver and Silversmiths" by Stephan Welz, without makers mark - but clearly Twentyman as he was the only Cape silversmith who used these punches. Twentyman was the most prolific of all Cape silversmiths, he had the first shop on Heerengracht (now Adderley Street) with a shop window. He worked between 1818 and 1837. We really like these spoons. Note - we have a matching set of 6 , S 11196.
A Irish Georgian silver tablespoon, in the Old English pattern, with original owners engraved initials PRM. The spoon has a lovely feel, full of character, with quite a large bowl. The hallmarks are bottom marked, and very clear, they could not be better. They include Dublin Hibernia, Crowned Harp, date letter R for 1765 and makers mark C.S in diamond punch, with star above and below, very distinctive. Skinner worked between 1739 and 1765, so this spoon was made right at the end of his career. He was a highly respected silversmith, he was elected Warden in 1751, Master in 1754 and in 1755 was elected to the Dublin City Common Council (Bennett, Collecting Irish Silver, page 153).
An Irish Provincial silver Bright Cut Celtic Point tablespoon, made in Cork and hallmarked in Dublin in 1804. The spoon is quite large, over 23 cm, and has intricate bright cut engraving, the quality is excellent. The spoon has engraved family crest of a Boar's head, this too is beautifully engraved, and very crisp and clear. The hallmarks are clear, Dublin hallmarks for 1804, and JK in script makers mark for Joseph Kinselagh of Cork, he worked between 1802 and 1807, he may have been a descendant of earlier silversmith of same name, 1750-1783, perhaps the makers mark was passed down the family. More research is required on this maker.
A sterling silver and white enamel Guildhall School of Music & Drama medallion, perfectly preserved in it's original box. The medallion is good quality, a pleasing weight, with music scrolls, mask and City of London crest. The medallion reads "DIPLOMA L.G.S.M.", for Licentiate of the Guildhall of the School of Music. The back is engraved "Albert Edward Honey Teachers' Flute", surrounded by laurel wreath. Albert Honey was born in Devon in 1919, he was principal flute for the Band of Royal Dragoons during the war. He then joined the Scottish National Orchestra from 1951-1954 and BBC Review Orchestra 1954-1964. He then emigrated to South Africa to teach at Rhodes University in Grahamstown, he retired in 1984 after being awarded M.Mus and Ph.D. He palayed in the National Symphony Orchestra after retirement and died in 2001. The hallmarks are clear.
An antique silver whisky noggin, also called a Chota Peg, complete with antique silver whiskey wine label. The noggin is the traditional conical shape, with cut glass star base, glass handle and silver pouring collar and lid with thumb piece. The hallmarks are clear on both the rim and the lid. The noggin comes with a small kidney shaped wine label with original chain, engraved "Whiskey", also with clear London hallmarks for 1908 and Hukin & Heath makers mark, a respected firm. Whisky noggins were popular in Edwardian times, they contain a 1 gill (30 ml) measure, so a generous double tot, and were made to be taken to bed. They were also popular amongst British expats in India during the Raj period, where they were called "Chota Peg", or little drink, also "go to bed" drink. Joshua and John Maxfield, founded in 1855 in Sheffield, were celebrated at the Jewellers Exhibition of 1913 for "the extent and variety of novelties which they have placed on the market" Culme, Gold & Silversmiths pg 319. They had a showro...
A set of 6 Art Deco sterling silver coffee spoons, with ribbed finials, in original box. The hallmarks are excellent on all 6 spoons.
A Coin silver American tablespoon in the Fiddle pattern, made by A F Burbank in Boston, Massachusetts, made around 1853. The spoon is the usual American Fiddle pattern, quite different to English Fiddle pattern, with flat broad handle and pointed bowl. The spoon has very clear hallmarks, A.F. Burbank. and Boston, which are both well struck and very clear. This is the earlier Burbank mark, the later one is incuse, hence we believe this spoon was made early in his career. The spoon has a 3rd hallmark, a very small swan in oval punch (tiny but very clear), this is a French import mark used between 1893 and 1970, indicating legal fineness, so this spoon spent some time in France (Tardy, international Hallmarks, pg 208). The term "Coin Silver" is used for American silver flatware made before 1870 that is not Sterling, slightly lower grade at 90% silver (sterling is 92.5%), made from melted coins, prior to discovery of silver in the USA.
An interesting Guild of Handicraft silver preserve spoon, hand made by the Harts of Chipping Campden. The spoon has a Celtic inspired finial with interlocking raised flowers on a matt background, which gives a nice contrast. The upper spoon shaft has been shaped with 4 notches on either side, which adds to the design, and also catches the light, similar to bright cutting. The fig shaped bowl is planished (hand hammered) with the individual hammer marks visible of the back of the bowl (the front of the bowl is smooth). The spoon also has a diamond shaped rat-tail, which is raised. The hallmarks are clear, including G of H makers mark.
An interesting British Arts & Crafts medallion, which could be worn as a pendant. The pendant has the Manchester Coat of Arms, complete with sailing ship and globe signifying Manchester's world trade, with bees on the globe signifying the industrial revolution. The supporters include an antelope and lion, and the motto "Concilio et Labore", translated "By Wisdom and Effort". The medallion also has Arts and Crafts symbols, including hammer & anvil, paintboard and brush, and hammer & wheel. The back is engraved "Awarded to Mabel Maynard for Miniature Painting, Manchester April 1901". The hallmarks are clear, and the loop is also hallmarked.
A Swedish silver spoon, commemorating the Goteborg Jubilee Exhibition of 1923, celebrating 300 years since the city was founded. The spoon has the bust of the Swedish King Gustavus Adolphus The Great, who was King between 1611 and 1632, he founded Sweden as a great power, and was a great military commander. November 6 is still celebrated in Sweden as Gustavus Adolphus day. The spoon has a large, deep fig shaped bowl, the stem reads "1923 Goteborg", the finial has a circular bust of the King, surrounded by flowers and scrolls. The spoon has clear hallmarks, the Swedish 3 crown National mark, S sterling silver standard mark, date letter M8 for 1938, and Stockholm city mark (kings head), along with C.G. HALLBERG makers mark. We are not sure how to reconcile the 1923 date with it's 1938 production date, we can only assume it was still in demand. CG Hallberg was a prominent Swedish Goldsmith, jeweler to the Swedish court, and one of the top firms in Sweden in the early 20th century.
A matching set consisting of a Cape Silver tablefork and dessertfork, in the Old English pattern, with matching contemporary initials DJ, probably the original owner. The initials are engraved on the back of the forks, in Georgian style. Both forks are good quality, with long tines, and are a good weight. The hallmarks on both are excellent, very well struck and clear, consisting of makers mark IC between the shell and ladder devices used by Combrink. It is interesting to note that the devices are not struck in the same order, so their placement by the silversmith was probably random. This is a combination of marks 26 - 28 in Cape Silver by Welz. Combrink was a member of the well regarded Combrink family of Cape silversmiths.
Basting spoon in early Old English Pattern, with an elegant narrow handle. In later Old English Pattern the handles flatten out. Basting spoons, sometimes called Turkey spoons, are ideal for use as large serving spoons. The hallmarks are clear, although the makers mark is partially worn, only the GS is visible.
Scottish Fiddle pattern table forks, appear unused, with tines in excellent condition. Very clear hallmarks.
Spot hammered 3 piece travelling shaving brush, the brush screws into the holder when in use. All 3 pieces are individually hallmarked.
Pair of bright cut Hester Bateman sugar tongs with very clear hallmarks. Decoration swag and wrigglework with initials JR on bow.
A lovely set of replica lace back trefid coffee spoons, perfectly preserved on original box, they do not appear to have been used. They are decorated in traditional style, both on the front of the stems and back of the bowls. The rat-tail is ribbed, the floral scrolls in relief are elaborate, with the pattern on the front matching the lace back back of bowl. The spoons ends also have the traditional notched pattern. All 6 spoons also have clear hallmarks, with FH makers mark for Francis Howard Ltd, who worked between 1900 and 2012. They are in their original box marked "H Perovetz Ltd, 51 Chancery Lane, London WC 2", Perovetz were leading London silver dealers until 1995. The set is also accompanied with its original explanatory card, "Sterling silver Charles II Trifid Lace Back spoon c1680", with notes on the spoon history, description, and explanation of all the hallmarks.
An interesting Roman silver Ligula (or spatula), used for getting cosmetics (or medicinal products) out of long necked jars (balsamaries). The ligula has a rounded shaft with a slight knob on the end, a baluster decoration on the stem (perhaps to improve grip), and a feather or leaf shaped bowl, the 2 sides joined at a 135 degree angle. The bowl also has 3 curved engraved lines, possibly for decoration. The stem is quite rough to the feel (the opposite of smooth and even), it has a number of knocks, small cracks and holes, and discouloured patches, perhaps the result of a long and rough life, but we feel more likely from impurities in the silver when it was made (we welcome opinions, this is certainly not our area of expertise, thanks)
Stunning pair of very good quality 2 pronged pickle forks of 800 purity, with a beautiful jugendstil design on both the back and the front of the forks, and horseshoe pattern above the prongs. The box is intact, but showing signs of its age. The hallmarks are very clear, depicting the German moon, crown, 800 purity and a double headed eagle, the makers mark for Bruckmann. Bruckmann were the largest silver producer in Germany, and were noted for their Jugendstil designs.
A set of 6 Art Deco sterling silver coffee spoons, well preserved in original half moon box. The spoons have horseshoe shape bowls, and classic Art Deco finials, the 4 tower shape. All 6 spoons have clear hallmarks. The box is also lovely, half oval fan shape. Both box and spoons are small and dainty, smaller than most spoon boxes.