A rare set of 6 Shell End Pistol Grip table knives, made by the Drury Family, the pre-eminent family of haft makers in 18th Century London. The knives have pistol hafts with ornate shell ends, and the sabre or scimitar shaped steel blades are engraved "WARWICK 124 REGENT STREET", we assume the original retailer. They have a pleasing weight and feel in the hand, we really like these knives. Knives with steel blades have rarely survived in good condition, these are an exception. The handles are loaded, as is usual for knives, and each handle is engraved with a double family crest, described as "swans head and neck erased ermine collared gules between two palm branches vert" for Gist and "demi man proper holding in dexter hand chaplet vert and resting his sinister hand on a cross crosslet and belt sable" for Sellick, the engraving is clear on all 6. All 6 knives have 2 hallmarks, makers mark DD in script for Dru Drury II, and sterling lion passant, all the hallmarks are clear. Ian Pickford, in his book Silver ...

An interesting solid gold bar brooch, with a natural gold nugget, set with a round brilliant diamond. The nugget is a beautiful shape and size, approximately 5 grams, with tiny quartz crystals confirming it is natural. The diamond is approximately .20 carats, 0.4 mm diameter, is a round brilliant cut, colour G/H and clarity VS. The bar brooch itself is 15 carat gold, it is hallmarked 15C, and has makers mark CM. This brooch is accompanied by a valuation certificate from The Gem Lab Gemmological Services, confirming replacement value of R 20800, and confirming the diamond and gold details above.

A magnificent Victorian cast silver Cherub salt, a replica of a style introduced by Paul de Lamerie. The salt have a cast vine leaf bowl, supported by a cherub with arm outstretched, and two dolphin feet supporting the bowl. This is fabulous quality, and the condition is excellent. The cherub (also called amorini and putti, but not cupid as no wings present) is naked except for a small loincloth, he is well modelled, note the detail of his hair. The bowl is a cast vine leaf, also well modelled, and the 2 stylised dolphin feet are copies of those used by Lamerie. The salt is solid, and stands well on the table, no wobble at all. Traces of original gilding are still visible, especially on the harder to reach areas on the body of the cherub (we imagine much of the gilding has been polished off over the years. The cherub is hollow, the casting hole visible under his bottom. The salt is clearly hallmarked on the vine leaf, with makers mark WS in distinctive punch for William Stocker, along with Victorian duty mark...

A 24 piece set of Georg Jensen sterling silver Cypress pattern flatware, consisting of 6 dinner knives, 6 dinner forks, 6 dinner spoons and 6 soup spoons. This set has a lovely elegant design, we particularly love the soup spoons. The spoons and forks are all sterling silver, the knives have stainless steel blades, also engraved "GEORG JENSEN DENMARK", and the usual hollow silver handles, the knives are serrated on one side and have an indent at the top of the blade. This is a vintage set dating from 1960, all 24 pieces are fully hallmarked. The hallmarks include "GEORG JENSEN" in oval dots, above "STERLING DENMARK". All 24 pieces also carry London import marks, sponsors mark G.JLd for Georg Jensen (their London branch), oval U import mark, .925 sterling mark and date letters e and f for 1960 and 1961. The Cypress (or Cypres) pattern is #99 in the Jensen catalog, it was designed by Tias Eckhoff in 1954. The Cypress pattern won the design competition held for the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Georg J...

An Arts & Crafts hand made silver dish, with a green enamel silver "button" with celtic design, surrounded by a rope border. The dish is hand hammered, with each hammer mark visible, this is a lovely little dish. It is embossed "A.E.S., 20th Dec 1913", so possibly made as a Christening present. Ramsden & Carr specialised in unique hand made and individually designed presentation pieces (Judith Miller, Arts & Crafts Collectors Guide, pg 171), this dish is a good example. They have been described as "the most important exponent of the Arts and Crafts movement in English silver" - Art Nouveau &Art Deco Silver, Annelise Krekel-Aalberse, pg 27). The hallmarks are clear, and include makers mark Rn&Cr, struck twice on the base of the dish. One mark is very clear, the other is only partially visible.

A very fine pair of Georgian silver barrel shaped beakers by the well known Bateman family; Peter, Ann and William. The beakers are patterned as half barrels, complete with individual staves and the hoops to hold them in place. This set is not intended to fit together to form a single barrel, as is sometimes the case with this form, they do not have the push-fit rim, and the crests are both aligned the same way (one crest would have been reversed if intended to fit together). The beakers are very good quality, a satisfying gauge and weight, they have a lovely feel in the hand, suitable for use (with a fine scotch whisky!). Both beakers have an interesting family crest, a dragons head above a Ducal coronet, between feathered wings, the engraving is crisp. This crest can be associated with the Dalton, Draycott and Codrington families. Peter Bateman was Hester Bateman's 2nd son, Ann Bateman was married to his brother Jonathan (who unfortunately died young in 1791), and Willam was the son of Ann and Jonathan. T...

A magnificent Scottish kilt sash brooch, used to hold the shoulder plaid in place. The brooch has cast thistles and celtic "buttons" surrounding a spectacular cairngorm (commonly known as citrine, also called black quartz or smoky quartz). The gemstone is very impressive, amongst the largest we have seen. It has been estimated at over 100 carats, and is a round brilliant cut. The hallmarks are clear, with retailers mark J.S.McL (McLeod we assume) overstriking the makers mark. Scottish citrine is called cairngorm after its place of origin in the Scottish Highlands, and is the November birthstone, also the symbol of brightness, life and hope.

Attractive set of antique Tiffany sterling flatware in the rare Tiffany pattern, comprising matching set of Tablespoons, Tableforks, Dessertspoons and Dessertforks (6 of each). The Tiffany pattern (pattern No 1 in the book "Tiffany Silver Flatware, 1845-1905) was designed by Edward C Moore, and was the first pattern he designed. The pattern is lovely, described as "Renaissance Revival, with modified Greek double scroll with shell like antefix and honeysuckle blossom" in the Tiffany Flatware book. It was produced between 1869 and 1917. In 1956 this pattern was re-introduced as the Beekman pattern, which does not have the intriguing scrolls that protrude halfway up the stems. Each piece has a monogram JHC, and each is clearly hallmarked "C Tiffany & Co, Sterling, PAT 1889". They are of exceptional quality, as you would expect from Tiffany, and are all a good weight. The Tiffany Silver Flatware book describes this pattern as "rare, seldom seen" (page 171). This pattern was the first flatware pattern that Tiffany...

Plain inkstand with an interesting historical inscription. The glass ink bottles are square cut, and the stand has scrolling borders and knurled feet. The inscription, in both English and Afrikaans, reads: To General Botha in commemoration of the opening by him of the Volksrust-Bethal Railway at Wakkerstroom on his Birthday 27th September 1916". Botha, who was Commandant in charge of the Boer forces in the Anglo Boer War of 1900-1902, became the first Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa in 1910. He remained Prime Minister until his death in 1919.

Very rare set of plain fiddle pattern Scottish provincial sugar tongs with extremely clear hallmarks on both arms - AS TAIN. Initials GC engraved on bow. Stewart was a very skilled craftsman (Quick, Ballance of Silver) who originally worked in Inverness (1796 - 1812), then moved to Tain. He died in 1841. Only 160 pieces of Tain silver by Stewart are known to exist, and only three quarters of these have the TAIN townmark. (Quick, Ballance of Silver). Tain, which has long been a pilgrims destination visiting St Duthac's shrine, is the home of Glenmorangie Whisky, made by "The 16 men of Tain".

A rare and interesting silver gaming vinaigrette, with a rotating disk with mounted gold arrow that points at a dial with numbers from 1 to 10. The vinaigrette is circular, with 5 sections between each numeral, the rotating disk is engraved with a radiating pattern, which adds grip to allow the disk to be rotated to the desired number. The base of the vinaigrette has an attractive engraved floral arrangement, the sides are decorated with further engraving and prick work bands. The interior grille is plain, but with a pattern of punched holes, as is common on earlier vinaigrettes. The interior is gilded, the base lemon yellow, the lid and grille a slightly darker gold colour, so possibly re-gilded. The hallmarks are clear, on both the base and the lid, the grille has no hallmarks. The hallmarks include makers mark IC in rectangular punch without dot, we have tentatively ascribed to John Caney (Grimwade 1218), as his mark has no dot and he was a small worker of the period (registered 1800). Unfortunately the ...

A set of 4 bottom marked Scottish Georgian silver tablespoons in the Old English pattern, made in Edinburgh in 1775 by Patrick Robertson. The spoons are all engraved with original owners initials DJ. The spoons are a pleasing quality and in good condition, with strong bowl tips, they have not seen much use. The spoons have a long drop with engraved ridge. The spoons are all bottom marked, the makers mark PR is very clear on 3 spoons and less clear on the 4th but still visible. As is often the case with bottom marked spoons, the town mark, thistle and date letter are squashed, but still visible on one of the spoons.

A lovely octagonal bachelors 4 piece tea and coffee service, consisting of teapot, coffeepot, sugarbowl and milkjug, all of exceptional quality and weight, by a very fine maker. The set are replicas of an early Georgian style circa 1720, with each and every detail faithful to the original style. This includes shape, handles, finials, even the hinges and spouts are correct. All are fully hallmarked with clear hallmarks, including the lids. The coffeepot, sugarbowl and creamer are all 1932, the teapot is 1939, but in exactly the same style by the same maker. Heming & Co, a prestigous firm with premises in Regent Street, London, was amalgamated into William Bruford in 1981.

An interesting Scottish Provincial silver snuff box, presented in Wick in 1868. The box is rectangular, the construction is unusual with a solid wedge shaped lid, overall the box has a hand made feel, slightly crude in finish, the hinge is a little wonky. The box is quite heavy and solidat 82 grammes. The box is engraved with worn scrolls on the lid and front side, this contrasts with the clearer engraving, we assume the box was made earlier and the engraving added later in 1868. It reads "From LJB, Wm Bremner, New Harbour Works, Wick, 1868". No hallmarks are present. This box has an interesting history, Wick was once the world's largest herring fishery port. The harbour was improved and expanded in 1831, James Bremner (we assume father to William), the notable Scottish naval architect, completed the work using ingenious near vertical flagstones, still visible today. Between 1863 and 1868 the harbour was improved again (the New Harbour Works) by adding a breakwater comprised of stone Jennies, it was designed...

Pair of Old English serving spoons of good gauge, with a nice feel.They are perfect for use as heavy duty serving spoons. They have an interesting crest of a tulip in front of 2 crossed crosses, each cross arm bearing another cross. Hallmarks very clear. We have now identified the crest, described as "a white lily, stalked and leaved, surmounted by two crosses, crosslet, fitchedin saltier, the is the crest of Elias Chadwick of Pudleston Court, Leominster, the crest is depicted in the book "Fairbairn's Crests", plate 126a no 15, and described on page 102. The family motto is "In candore decus", translated "the beauty of whiteness". Elias Chadwick was a Lancashire coal baron, he bought Pudleston Court in 1845 and rebuilt the current castle like mansion (it was a hospital in WWII which hosted the vet and author James Herriot). Chadwick was a buisnessman (also involved in the local railways) and generous benefactor, his life took a turn for the worst in 1865 after his wife died and he was accused of "committing a...

An interesting Victorian silver box, with am embossed scene of 4 racing horses pulling a rider, in front of a building. We imagine the rider is riding a chariot, but this is not visible. The rider has a flowing cape, the horses have flowing manes and are kicking up a dust storm, the modelling of the horses is beautiful and very realistic. The box is table snuff box size, it could also fit cigarettes or small cigars, but as it is not gilded or wood lined we assume it is a storage box for small desk items, or perhaps cufflinks on a dressing table. The box is good quality and a pleasing weight. The hallmarks on the base are slightly worn from polishing but still clearly visible, including makers mark G over interlocking L in shield punch for Lambert and Co, who used this mark between 1884 and 1900, based in Coventry Street London. Lambert and Co. was a prestigious firm, originally Lambert and Rawlings, they held a Royal warrant and won a prize medal at the Great Exhibition of 1851. In 1861 George Lambert and his...

A Cape silver snuff box by William Moore, who was previously thought to have only produced flatware, so this is a rare example. The snuffbox is the traditional rectangular shape, plain except for the engraved lid with scrolls and flowers around an irregular cartouche, which has never been engraved. The box also has a cast silver thumb piece, also with flowers and scrolls, and the interior is gilded. The box is lovely quality and a pleasing weight (81 grams). Both the lid and the base are clearly hallmarked, the lid with makers mark W.M only, the base has 5 hallmarks, 4 pseudo English hallmarks arranged around the W.M makers mark. These include pseudo Georgian duty mark, pseudo crowned leopard's head town mark, pseudo date letter a and a 4th indistinct mark, possibly another head shaped duty mark. William Moore usually used a WM mark without dot, so this is a different punch, it is recorded on the website www.capesilvermarks.co.za. The pseudo date letter a is regularly seen on Cape silver, used by silversmith...

A set of four Early Georgian Dutch silver Hanoverian pattern tablespoons, made in Amsterdam in 1754 by Andries Vis. The four tablespoons (also called porridge spoons by the Dutch) have a central rib, and a very strong upturn, enough so it can hang from a finger. The spoons also have a double drop, with a prominent pip at the end of the second drop. The hallmarks are good on all 4 spoons, and include makers mark of a fish for Andries Vis, rampant lion with crown indicating first standard silver (925 sterling quality), town mark for Amsterdam (three crosses under crown) and date letter U for 1754. Andries Vis worked between 1741 and his death in 1799, he is known for his cast figural spoons. He was a very competent silversmith, in addition to spoons he produced teapots and other hollow-ware. His silver is well represented in museum collections, a very similar spoon to these is in the Boijmans museum.

A magnificent Arts and Crafts silver Apostle spoon, one of the finest we have seen. The spoon has a well cast Apostle complete with Nimbus in flowing robe, with one hand raised in blessing. The detail is lovely, including the full beard and flowing hair. He stands on an attractive pedestal with scrolls and foliage. The stem is very unusual, with an open pear shaped loop at the base and central groove (front and back), it is hand hammered and is wrapped in an applied entwined scroll. The bowl is also hand hammered, circular but tapered as it joins the stem, with a fascinating drop (or join), the tapered bowl splits into two strands which are curled into rolls, held in place by 2 silver balls - we have never encountered this before in a spoon. The hallmarks are clear, including makers mark F.C in quatrefoil punch for Frederick Courthope. Courthope took over the business of respected George Angell in 1884. he started trading in his own name in 1889, he worked until 1912. He was a master silversmith, who hand mad...

A rare and unusual Victorian silver double lidded twin stamp box, one of the most practical designs we have seen on a stamp box. The box is rectangular, and is good quality, a pleasing weight, with gilded interior with 2 sloped compartments, and twin lids on separate hinges. The lids have separate silver frames which hold the glass in place covering the representative stamp. The box is clearly hallmarked, both lids and both frames are hallmarked as well. Cohen & Charles worked between 1890 and 1974, founded by Albert Cohen and Charles Solomon. They were the sole English agents for the leading French firm of Baudet Freres & Cie, so were a prestigious firm (Culme, Gold & Silversmiths, pg 88).