Unusual pair of knife rests, shaped as a pair of "jacks", with a central ball with 6 arms, each ending in a small ball. They are nice and solid, and a very good weight. In addition to clear hallmarks, they also carry a registration number (111097), indicating the design was registered by Roberts & Belk, and a small crest depicting a Roman oil lamp. Roberts and Belk were a well known firm, first established in 1809, and bought by CJ Vander in 1961.
Lovely set of German 800 silver teaspoons, probably produced for a 3rd Reich organisation, of very good quality and weight, with an attractive scrolling border an an unusual crest. The crest is an angel, a young girl in traditional dress with angels wings, holding a shield containing a crown over 2 crossed arrows and circle. We have been informed that this is a Hitler Youth crest, but as this is not our area of expertise we cannot confirm that. We would welcome any views or comments, and hope we are not offending anyone in the event that it is a Hitler Youth crest. The hallmarks are clear, makers mark HTB, actually H hammer B, for the Hanseatische Silberwarenfabrik AG of Bremen, Germany. It was founded by 2 Bremen jewellers, Brinkmann & Lange, and produced flatware between 1933 and 1937, when it was absorbed into Wilkens. They were approved suppliers to the German 3rd Reich, RZM mark no. 241 of the NSDAP, and are known to have supplied a number of different military organisations.
A near pair of silver golf trophies from the Manchester Old Golf Club, both won by the same person. The first was made in Sheffield in 1900 by Fenton Brothers, the second in London in 1901 by Harris & Sons. The trophies are bowls, similar in shape to rosebowls, but smaller. They both have a half fluted design. Both are engraved, the first reads "Manchester Old Golf Club, Atherton Silver Medal, 1900, Edwin Oliver, 98-15-83", the second "Old Manchester Golf Club, Silver Challenge Bowl, 1903, E. Oliver". The hallmarks on both are clear, one makers mark is rubbed but still visible.
A beautiful Arts and Craft teapot and sugarbowl, with rosewood handles attached with silver rivets, and a conch shell motif, inspired by an Aztec design. These are from the Spratling First Design Period (1931-1946), and have the WS Print circle hallmark and Sterling mark. Spratling was an American architect who settled in Taxco, Mexico, and revived the art of silversmithing there. A similar teapot (but with a silver handle) is illustrated on page 47 of the book Spratling Silver, Centennial Edition, by Sandraline Cederwall and Hal Riney.
A lovely golfing memorabilia teaspoon, with enamel finial of a lady golfer in early 20th century dress. The teaspoon shaft has an attractive design, and the hallmarks are clear. A.J. Bailey worked from the Everest works in Tenby Street.
Cape Konfyt (preserve) fork with 3 prongs, with clear English Pseudo hallmarks and makers initials. Silver Konfyt forks are unique to the Cape.
A lovely enamel silver cigarette case with a bespectacled golfer swinging a wood, with flag visible behind him. The enamel is very good quality, well painted with lots of detail. The interior is gilt, and both sides of the box are hallmarked with clear marks. Blanckensee & Son was established in 1826, and by the turn of the century they had a large export trade and London showrooms. In the Jewellers exhibition of 1913, Blanckensee had "two of the prettiest windows in the exhibition", which included enamel cigarette cases (Culme, Directory of Silversmiths 1838 - 1914).
A lovely cast silver belt buckle, probably a nurses buckle depicting a bird, butterfly, flowers and bullrushes (on each buckle). The quality is exceptional, the design is well modelled with lovely detail. The buckle was designed by Winifred Green (wife of Charles), who was a talented designer (Source Culme, London goldsmiths). Charles established the firm in 1903, so this buckle was one of their earlier pieces. The firm still exists today, and has a showroom in Cross St, Hatton Gardens, London. The hallmark is extremely clear.
Delightful silver handled (hook is steel) boot button hook, shaped as a leopard's head, of exceptional quality. The cast leopard's head has fine detail, including the 4 teeth and tongue. Buttonhooks were an essential Victorian accessory, used for buttons on boots and tight fitting clothing. The only hallmark present is an English Lion passant, which is worn, but still visible.
Cast silver gilt sifter spoon, with pirate finial, and shell shaped bowl. This is a lovely spoon of good quality, the pirate finial has very good detail. George Fox was part of the famous Fox family of silversmiths, who supplied many of the leading retailers in their day. As is common with Fox silver, this spoon replicates an earlier style. The hallmarks are well struck, but slightly defaced by a scratch.
Unusual set of 6 Arts and Crafts coffee spoons, made by Liberty, each set with different semi precious stones - malachite, amethyst, sodalite, turquoise, garnet and a green stone we cannot identify. The spoons are still in their original box, showing they were retailed by Mappin and Webb, Regent St, London. The spoons were made the year after Liberty closed their Cymric business (1901 - 1926), which was a partnership with William Haseler. The hallmarks are very clear on all spoons.
Beautiful set of 6 classic Art Deco teaspoons, made by the highly regarded firm of Elkington. The spoons were made early in the Second World War, before production was halted in favour of the war effort. The hallmarks are clear on all 6 spoons.
Delightful heart shaped vesta case in excellent condition, with engraved initials FVB. The hallmarks are very clear, the lid is also hallmarked. This case has a nice feel in the hand. Vesta cases (called matchsafes in USA) were used to carry wax vesta matches (predate safety matches), they were struck on the serrated edge of the case.
Delightful set of 8 silver cocktail sticks, modelled as golfclubs, complete with handle and clubface. The hallmarks are clear and present on each stick. Turner and Simpson used this particular makers mark between 1929 and 1979.
An extremely rare Cape konfyt (preserve) fork with tubular handle, with typically Cape prick engraving of foliage at the top of the handle. No hallmarks are present. The handle is similar to the Cannon handle pattern of early English flatware. Similar forks are illustrated in Heller's History of Cape Silver (Vol 2, pg 82) and Welz's Cape Silver (pg 68), these are by Johannes Combrink.
Rare Cape Basting spoon (Old English pattern) with a large and deep bowl, and very clear hallmarks. The bowl is also wider than English versions, as can be seen from the comparative photo. The spoon also has a thick drop. Jan Lotter, who worked from 22 Keerom Street, only produced silver for 4 years from 1813 - 1817.
A rare Cape twisted stem teaspoon, with spearhead handle and typical Cape floral engraving, and clear hallmarks. It is very similar to those made by Jan Byleveld circa 1820, so we can only assume it was made by Vos to match an earlier one made by Byleveld. Vos worked from 127 Long Street for 8 years, before dying at the young age of 27. He was one of the last working Cape silversmiths.
A rare matching pair of twisted stem konfyt (preserve) fork and spoon, the fork having 3 prongs. They have spearhead handles, with typical Cape floral engraving, and very clear hallmarks. Similar forks and spoons are illustrated in Heller's History of Cape Silver (Vol 1, pg 148) and Welz's Cape Silver (pg 41). Byleveld worked from 53 Loop Street and 31 Waterkant Street from 1814 - 1827, when he died age 35.
Plain Cape butterknife with scimitar blade, and clear Pseudo English hallmarks. The makers mark is not present, but these particular Pseudo marks were only used by Twentyman (mark 134 in Welz, Cape Silver).
A rare Cape Silver twisted stem konfyt (preserve) fork, with spearhead handle and typical Cape floral engraving. This is similar to the pair (item S 1188), but the engraved flower lacks foliage and the only hallmark present is the makers mark, which is very clear.