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.

Art Deco octagonal sweet dish with Ivory handles, with very clear hallmarks. This dish could also be used for teabags, and would fit very nicely with the Deco tea service (item S179).

This caddy spoon is by Taylor & Perry, who are known for their good quality caddy spoons. The bowl is beautifully engraved with flowers and foliage, the handle with leaves. The cartouche has the initial H, and the hallmarks are very clear. The caddy spoon is Fiddle pattern.

Set of six Irish teaspoons, with an interesting falcon crest, in the Fiddle pattern. These spoons are larger than many other teaspoons (slightly longer and heavier). The hallmarks are very clear on all spoons.

A lovely set of six Art Deco coffee spoons, with unusual pierced design, celtic in appearance. They were retailed by Boodle & Dunthorpe, Goldsmiths of Lord Street, Liverpool, and are still in their original box. Boodle and Dunthorpe (Boodles) was founded in 1798 in Liverpool, and are still in the Lord Street premises in Liverpool. Boodles is a highly respected firm, they made the octagonal silver wedding cake stand for HRH Princess Elizabeth, now Queen. The spoons were made in 1939, just before the outbreak of World War II. The hallmarks on all 6 spoons are perfect.

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.

A Dutch silver caddy spoon, made in Amsterdam by Paulus Esink circa 1800. The spoon has a long elongated shell bowl, with a thread pattern handle, with pointed end, the bowl angles up at the tip, overall an elegant spoon. The bowl size is quite big, it will hold a generous amount of tea. The spoon is clearly hallmarked with makers mark PE in serrated punch for Paulus Esink, who worked between 1788 and 1811. The Amsterdam town mark is clear but with slight wear, no date letter is visible. The spoon also has the axe/ hatchet Dutch silver tax mark used between 1853 and 1927, this would have been added later when the spoon re-entered the market. Note - We have a beautiful boxed set of 12 grapefruit spoons by Paulus Esink, S 11592.

A Victorian Canadian silver teaspoon, manufactured by Robert Hendery of Montreal, Quebec, and retailed by unknown G&B (all assistance welcome). The spoon has quite interesting and attractive engraving, a flower and foliage, we have not seen this design before. The hallmarks are clear, retailers mark G&B who we have not been able to identify. The pseudo Lion rampant in oval (copied from the Glasgow town mark) and pseudo duty mark with clipped corners clearly identify the maker as Robert Hendery of Montreal (1837-1897), the most prolific Canadian silversmith, who is known to have manufactured for many smaller silversmiths and retailers.

A Fiddle pattern Cape Silver teaspoon, with very clear Cape silver pseudo hallmarks. The spoon have no engraving. The hallmarks include maker mark JJV in script, in an unusual 6 sided punch, between pseudo lion passant and pseudo duty mark, this is Queen Victoria, complete with hair bun. Jacobus Johannes Vos was born in 1834, the son of silversmith Willem Vos, he worked between 1854 and 1861, when he died early age 27, still unmarried. He was clearly a talented silversmith as he left behind good quality silver. Note - We have a matching pair of teaspoons S 11569.

A beautiful Australian Arts & Crafts hand made sterling silver jam spoon, with Geraldton Wax indigenous floral finial, made by of of Perth's leading family of silversmiths, Linton Silver. The spoon has a hand hammered (planished) bowl, triple rat tail drop and a cast silver floral finial, the detail and quality is very pleasing. The spoon are clearly hallmarked, a gum nut symbol in square punch, "ST.SILVER" standard mark and makers mark JAL for Linton Silver, who traded between 1938 and 1978. JAL refers to Jamie Linton, who joined his father's studio in 1920, he remained active until 1980. He trained in Perth, Paris and London, where he studied Central School for Arts & Crafts. He designed the range of Australian indigenous wildflower spoons, which are still produced today by Bethamy Linton, who retails each spoon at $295. Note - We have a matching teaspoons S 11535.

A Chinese Export silver teaspoon in the Fiddle pattern, with clear Chinese export pseudo hallmarks. The teaspoon is engraved with owners initials HH over P, the P appears much cruder than the HH, so we assume it was added earlier or later by a different engraver. The hallmarks include pseudo lion passant, pseudo crowned leopards head, pseudo date letter C (or possibly a makers mark for Cutshing) and pseudo duty mark. This mark is shown in the book Chinese Export Silver by Forbes (page 243 figure 215), where it is described as rare and unidentified, other authors have ascribed this mark as possibly Cutshing, who used a variety of different makers marks. Cutshing is "widely recognised as producing some of the finest silver from the early China Trade period (1785-1840)" - www.chinese-export-silver.com, article on Cutshing.

A Cape silver teaspoon in the Fiddle pattern, with excellent Cape silver hallmarks. The spoon is engraved C.V.N.O. Schultz 1862, we assume the original owner, this engraving is very crisp and clear. The hallmarks are excellent, and include makers mark JJV in an unusual 6 sided punch (Welz mark 161), pseudo sterling lion, and pseudo duty mark (Queen Victoria's head with good detail, and hair bun). Jacobus Vos worked from 127 Long Street, unfortunately he died young, age 27, unmarried, which is a pity as he produced good quality silver. Note: We have been informed that C.V.N.O. Schultz could possibly be Constand (Constant) Van Nuldt Onkruidt Schultz, who was born in Cape town 13/11/1824, son of Jacob Schultz and Catharina Fredrica Van Nuldt Onkruidt. He married Martinet (Martha) Maria van der Poel in Cape Town on 15/02/48. He died on 16/04/1863 in Stellenbosch, his death notice recorded him as "small farmer". The spoon is dated the year defore his death, so possibly it was anticipated and he had the spoon (s) m...

An Indian Colonial salt spoon, made by Hamilton & Co, the "Garrards of India". The spoon is in the Fiddle, Thread and Shell pattern with gilded bowl, and is double struck, and is pleasing quality, and in good condition. The hallmarks are clear, makers mark H&Co, Elephant, date letter A and tally mark 2 semi circles, these marks were used 1860-1914 (source www.ascasonline.org, History and Marks of Hamilton & Co). Note the unusual & in the makers mark (quite fat), different makers marks were used by Hamilton over the years, this should assist more precise dating, further research is required. Note: We have matching sifter and salt spoons and sauce ladles.

A brass trench art military cap snuff box, with engraved inscription from the South Staffordshire Regiment, dating back to World War I. The snuff box is realistically modelled in the shape of an Officers cap, these were made from shell casings. The cap visor acts as the thumb piece to open the hinged lid, which is in excellent condition. The top of the cap is engraved "Sergt. Major A. Wilson. 11th. S. Staffs. Regt - 1915." The South Staffordshire Regiment was a line infantry regiment created in 1881, they served in the Anglo Boer War, WWI and WWII. During WWI they served on the Western front, Gallipoli, Egypt, Italy and Dublin (the 1916 Easter Rising). The Regiment raised a total of 18 battalions and was awarded 66 battle honours, 3 Victoria Crosses and lost 6,357 men during the course of the war. The 11th Battalion was a reserve unit formed in Jersey 1914, and was absorbed into training reserve battalion in 1916. We have not been able to trace Sergeant Major Wilson, all assistance appreciated.

A sterling silver medallion awarded in 1926 as a sporting trophy by Michaelhouse School, one of South Africa's leading schools. The front of the medallion features the school crest of an armoured arm holding the scales of justice, with latin motto "QUIS UT DEUS", translated "Who is like God". The back of the medallion is crisply engraved "High Jump G.W. Boyes 1926", surrounded by a laurel wreath. The medallion is good quality, and has a suspension ring with loop, so it can be worn as a pendant. The medallion is clearly hallmarked for Birmingham 1926, with makers mark for Joseph Daffern, who worked between 1908-1931. George Wroughton Boyes (1910-1986) is today remembered as a first class cricketer who represented the province of Natal, South Africa. Michaelhouse today is a leading South African School, first established in 1896, it was also the inspiration for the book and film Spud.

A rare Kenya Regiment sterling silver and marcasite sweetheart brooch, of fine quality depicting a charging Water Buffalo profusely set with marcasite stones with "Kenya Regiment" scroll below. The buffalo has a red stone eye, which is quite striking and catches the eye. The back is clearly hallmarked "Sterling" for sterling silver, and the pin has a roller safety catch. The Kenya Regiment was a British military unit recruited from white settlers in colonial Kenya and Uganda. It was formed in 1937 but temporarily disbanded at the outbreak of World War II in 1939. Re-established in 1950, it participated in the repression of the Mau Mau rebellion (1952–56) and was finally disbanded in May 1963 when Kenya became independent (source wikipedia). The singer Roger Whittaker served in this regiment. In his final paragraph of his book "The Charging Buffalo" - A History of the Kenya Regiment, Sir Guy Campbell writes: "I want to believe that when I leave this earth I will find in the hereafter a Branch of our Regiment...

A Chinese Export silver dessertspoon in the Fiddle pattern, with very clear pseudo hallmarks. The spoon has original engraved initials (now worn), and has been well used. The hallmarks include pseudo lion passant, pseudo crowned leopard's head town mark, makers mark YS and pseudo duty mark, these marks are very clearly struck, but show wear to the punches from prolonged use. The website www.chineseexportsilver.com also notes that "Yatshing silver is always of a high standard", and the book "Chinese Export Silver describes Yatshing as "quite prolific".

An Arts and Crafts sterling silver bangle, made by the little known silversmith Denis Lacy-Hulbert in 1953, an early piece of his work. The bangle is decorated with flowers and foliage, the original solder join still clearly visible. The hallmarks are hidden in the decoration but still clearly visible, they include the optional coronation mark used to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1952. We assume this piece was made for a member of his family, and not intended for sale. Denis (Ben) Lacy-Hulbert (1911-2005) was Managing Director of a family steel tube/ cylinder manufacturing business, silversmithing was a hobby, very few items are recorded by him. Denis also made antique replica items in 18 carat gold, notably a strawberry dish and tumber cups. Denis Lacy-Hulbert registered his mark in 1953, but most surviving work appears to be between 1972 and 1983, he was based in Chesterfield, Darbyshire. The business Lacy-Hulbert & Co was founded by Denis and Cyril's father Charles in 1903, they were ...

A Natal Mercury sterling silver Medal, awarded in 1928 by N.A.R.A. The medal has a winged Mercury, the Roman messenger of the Gods, running across a bridge, surrounded by "Natal Mercury 1928". The reverse has a laurel wreath, and is engraved "N.A.R.A. won by" - with no name engraved. The Natal Mercury is South Africa's oldest newspaper, established in 1852, and still running today, it still uses Mercury as it's logo. We are not sure what NARA stands for, perhaps Natal Amateur Running Association? The mercury logo is also used by the Comrades Marathon, the world's largest and oldest ultramarathon race, 89 km's between Durban and PieterMaritzburg, established in 1921. All finishers received a silver medal until 1931, we are not sure if this medal was intended for the comrades. We have also seen a 9 carat gold version of this medal.

A sterling silver medallion commemorating the 50 year anniversary of the South African Teachers Union (Suid Afrikaanse Onderwys Unie) IN 1955. The front of the medallion shows Cape Town's Table Mountain under clouds, with KAAPSTAD engraved underneath, the reverse has S.A.O.U above a scroll with the dates 1905-1955. The medallion has a loop so it can be worn as a pendant. This is a beautiful medallion, excellent quality and in very fine condition. The medallion is clearly hallmarked with the South African Lion above U, STG sterling mark, date letter gothic h for 1955, and makers mark SAM for South African Mint. The SAOU still exists today, with branches in all 9 provinces, representing South African teachers, unfortunately their website does not explain it's history or this beautiful medallion.