A pair of octagonal engine turned napkin rings, with applied armorial of the city of East London, South Africa. The armorials are lovely, with 4 colours of enamel, and good quality and gilded, we assume a metal, possibly silver, but no hallmarks are visible (possibly hidden on the back which is glued to the napkin rings. The rings are a pleasing shape, with 2 engine turned panels each, both are clearly hallmarked. The armorial depicts the cross of St George, as with the original London, with sheaves of wheat and sheep depicting agriculture, below a rising sun signifying the east. The shield rests on a gold anchor, as per the Cape Colony arms. This armorial was granted in 1892, it was replaced in 1959 by a more heraldically correct version.

A set of 6 Scottish Provincial Oar pattern teaspoons made in Banff circa 1820, 4 by John McQueen and 2 by William Simpson I. The Oar pattern is also called Fiddle without Shoulders (Pickford Silver Flatware page 111), it is a scarce variant only found in Scotland. All 6 teaspoons are engraved with original owners initials JJR, but close inspection of the engraving shows the 2 spoons by Simpson were engraved by a different hand, we presume this was done later to complete a set of Banff teaspoons. You can also see slight differences in the shape of the bowl and Fiddle in the 2 Simpson spoons when compared to the Mcqueen spoons, showing they were all made by hand. The hallmarks on all 6 spoons are good, the 4 McQueen spoons have the stub mark of McQueen - B, A, Scottish Thistle, McQ - mark BF35 in the Directory of Scottish Provincial Silversmiths by Richard Turner, a book we highly recommend. 2 spoons have wear to the B, and one spoon has wear to the McQ, probably a result of uneven punching. The 2 Simpson spoon...

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 REME (Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers) Regimental 9 carat gold Sweetheart Brooch. The badge depicts a horse rearing with a coronet around its neck, linked via a chain to a globe the horse is standing on. Behind the horse there is a lightning flash, which symbolises electrical engineering while the globe stands for the world-wide role of the unit. The chained horse symbolises power under control. The badge is completed with the British Royal Crown. The flash and crown are clearly hallmarked 9 carat yellow gold, the horse is a much lighter colour, we assume it is white gold. The hinge, pin and safety clasp are also yellow gold. The brooch also has a gold suspension ring behind the lightning flash, possibly for another form of attachment. The brooch is clearly hallmarked for Birmingham 1967, 9 carat gold and has makers mark W.O.L, they worked between 1953 and 1970 but are currently un-identified, possibly W.O. Lewis. This badge is described by members of the REME as "a horse dropping a bollock".

A beautiful pair of antique cast silver grape scissors (zilver druifschaar in Dutch), made in Amsterdam in 1885, these are extremely good quality and a pleasing weight. The scissors have simulated vine branches, with well placed cast vine leaves and bunches of grapes, the blade portion is solid silver as well, no steel pieces. The scissors have 2 vine arms that they rest upon, so are easily accessed when being picked up, a lovely and practical design feature. The silver is 835 grade, as is usual for Dutch silver, as indicated by the lion hallmark with II below it, this hallmark easily visible on the blade. The other hallmarks are hidden in the decoration, but clearly visible, including Dutch Minerva with A for Amsterdam, date letter gothic A for 1885 and makers mark JL under 5 for Jilles Limburg, who worked between 1874 and 1900 (mark 11592 in Netherlands Responsibility Marks since 1797).

A sterling silver porringer, this is a replica of a Carolean porringer dateing back to Charles II. The porringer is beautifully made, a very pleasing quality. It is planished (spot hammered), so probably hand made. The porringer is embossed with acanthus leaves and the 2 scroll handles are decorated with dolphin heads. The hallmarks are clear. Samuel Walton Smith worked between 1886 and 1926, the partners included John Bodman Carrington of Carrington & Co. This was probably intended as a Christening gift, but has never been engraved.

An interesting pair of cast silver sugartongs by Hester Bateman, the most famous 18th century female silversmith, she has also been described as the Queen of British silversmiths. The tongs are bow shaped, with attractive cast silver pierced arms, decorated with foliage, scrolls and flowers, and shell grips. The bow is shaped, and has a cartouche for owners initials, which has not been engraved. The side of the bow has faint remnants of owners initials, P/IM, now very worn. Cast sugartongs followed scissor style sugar nips (also called tea tongs), most date between 1770 and 1780, when they were replaced by standard sugar tongs. Cast sugar tongs were complex to make, the arms were cast separately and then soldered onto the bow (Hodges, Georgian Silver Sugar Tongs, page 11). This particular tongs was made from 5 separate pieces, the bottom thinner portion of the arms were cast separately, all the solder joints are visible. We believe this is how the tongs were originally produced, there is a possibility they we...

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.

An antique sterling silver ceremonial key, presented to the Lord Bishop of Carlisle on the opening of the Grasslot Mission Room, Maryport in 1908. The key is the traditional shape, with 2 shields (one engraved, the reverse blank) surrounded by scrolls, and a ribbed stem. The key is engraved "Presented to the Lord Bishop on opening Grasslot Mission Room 1908". The key is good quality, a pleasing weight, and has been perfectly preserved in it's original box. The box reads "J.W. Johnston & Son Carlisle", the box is also good quality with velvet and silk interior. JW Johnston were leading jewellers and cloackmakers in Carlisle, an advert shows they had been in business over 49 years. John William Diggle was Bishop of Carlisle between 1905 and 1920, so we assume the key was presented to him (Maryport is a short distance from Carlisle and falls within its area). The hallmarks are clear. James Fenton of Birmingham worked between 1854 and 1956. The Grasslot Mission Chapel was built in 1908, and was sold by the Baptis...

A Chinese Export silver dessertspoon in the Fiddle pattern, made by the respected maker Khecheong in Canton. The spoon has no engraving or any signs of removal of engraving. The hallmarks are clear, and include pseudo duty mark, pseudo crowned leopards head town mark, pseudo lion passant and makers mark KHC (slight wear to K). Khecheong was one of the most prolific Chinese Export silversmiths, he worked from Club Street, Honam Island, Canton between 1840 and 1870. He has been described as a "good silversmith" Forbes, Chinese Export Silver 1785-1885, page 255 - a book we highly recommend.

A W.R.N.S. (Women's Royal Naval Service) 9 carat gold and enamel Sweetheart brooch, probably dating back to WW II. The brooch has lovely detail, with 2 tones of gold, the W.R.N.S. badge of a bird (wren) sitting on an anchor behind the naval crown, above W.R.N.S. scroll in blue enamel. This is mounted on a 9 carat gold bar brooch, with gold pin and locking clasp, often these pins are not gold. The bar is clearly hallmarked 9CT for 9 carat gold. The W.R.N.S. (popularly and officially known as the Wrens) was the Women's branch of the Royal Navy, served as cooks, clerks, wireless telegraphists, radar plotters, weapons analysts, range assessors, electricians and air mechanics, in 1944 they had 75000 service women.

An interesting set of 6 Art Deco sterling silver sandwich flags, perfectly preserved in their original box. The silver flags are accompanied by 20 double sided interchangeable plastic flag names, these include: - caviare, tomato& cheese, smoked salmon,beef, cucumber, sardine, anchovy,chicken, egg& anchovy, egg, ham, cheese, tomato, lobster, cress, smoked roe, crab, banana, tongue and fish. The flags themselves are good quality, ivory in colour (sometimes described as ivorine, certainly intended to imitate ivory) with clear black lettering, all 20 are in good condition. The flags can be interchanged according to the menu. It is interesting to see what would have been on the sandwich menu in 1929, caviare, smoked roe and lobster, but also banana! All 6 flags are fully hallmarked, clearly legible on 5 flags, one flag has indistinct marks. All 6 flags are also marked "Made in England", alongside a provisional patent number "Pro/ Pt 33279/28" and design registration number "Rd 742069". Adolph Scott worked between...

A pair of Scottish sterling silver Millenium napkin riings, elliptical in shape, with the Millenium hallmarks struck as part of the design. The rings are good quality and a very pleasing weight, and do not appear to have been used. The hallmarks have been arranged around the special 2000 cross hallmark, used to celebrate the millenium. Eric Smith was an award winning designer and Jeweller, based in Glasgow for over 50 years until his retirement in 2018. He also completed a project to restore the Glasgow hallmark in 2013, which had not been used since 1963.

A Royal Sussex Regiment 15 carat gold and enamel sweetheart brooch, probably dating from the 1st World War, but possibly earlier (Anglo Boer War). The brooch consists of the Garter Star with Roussillon plume, red enamel cross, blue enamel motto "Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense", above blue enamel scroll "The Royal Sussex Rgt". The star and plume are white gold, which contrasts nicely with the yellow gold of the enamel and bar. The badge is mounted on a bar brooch with Y shaped safety clasp, the pin, hinge and clasp are all gold. Both the badge and bar are hallmarked 15CT for 15 carat gold, this standard of gold was discontinued by Britain in 1932, hence we can date this brooch to the Great War. The Royal Sussex Regiment was established in 1881, they saw service in the Anglo Boer War, World War I and World War II. They were amalgamated with other regiments in 1966. The brooch also has a old ring link at the top, so could also be worn as a pendant on a chain.

A beautifully modelled Victorian cast silver novelty pepper (or pepperette) of a running dog, with pull off pierced head. The dog is a delight to hold and use, the texture gives a pleasing feel, this is a fine quality item. The dog rests firmly on a table, no wobbles. Both the body and the head are clearly hallmarked, including makers mark FE in shaped punch for Thomas Johnson (Dyer's buildings), which was established in 1850, and was transferred to Sampson Mordan in 1898. Frederick Edmonds (FE makers mark used 1892-1898) joined the business in 1878, he took over full control in 1892 until his death in 1898, when his widow transferred the business to Sampson Mordan & Co. Thomas Johnson specialised in small novelty silver items, they supplied many top retailers, including Walter Thornhill, both locally and internationally.

A set of 6 Georgian silver dessert forks in the Old English pattern, made by the delightfully named Samuel Godbehere, with his partner Edward Wigan. The forks are good quality and a pleasing weight. The forks have a beautifully engraved family crest of a sun in splendour, very intricate with about 50 sunbursts, this is quality engraving. The sun in splendour crest was used by a number of families, all assistance welcome. All 6 forks have clear hallmarks, including makers mark SG/EW which was used between 1787 and 1800.

A cape silver dessert spoon in the Fiddle pattern, made by Daniel Beets, but with previously unrecorded hallmarks, so a rare spoon. The spoon has no engraving, but the bowl is quite battered, so we can only describe the condition as fair, so this spoon is for hallmarking interest rather than use. The hallmarks include makers mark DB struck twice, interspersed with 3 bird hallmarks, in round punch, this bird punch has only previously been recorded as used by Lawrence Twentyman. As we said this is a rare combination of marks, not recorded in Cape Silver by Welz, where he shows Beets with star and circular devices, but not with the bird punch. Heller shows a Beets mark interspersed with pseudo kings head duty marks, also not shown in Welz, which shows Beets did also occasionally use pseudo punches. Daniel Beets worked between 1812 and 1828, he was the illegitimate son of German Balthus Beets and Cape slave Angana. His son, also Daniel Beets, also practised as a silversmith, but as he probably used his fathers p...

A rare Oban silver pickle fork with Iona style St. Martin's Cross finial, made by Robert Lindsay in Oban in 1929 and hallmarked in Sheffield. The fork has splayed fat tines, so ideal for pickles or cold meats. The hallmarks are clear, and include makers mark RL in 2 circular punches, and "R.LINDSAY, OBAN". Lindsay is only recorded for 2 years between 1927 and 1929, we assume the tourist trade was insufficient to support him, so his silver is rare (as is all Oban silver, see our butter knives by Drummond S 1931). He produced small spoons, knives and forks, all with Iona crosses, alongside napkin rings. We welcome additional information on Robert Lindsay, this is a beautiful fork, he deserved to flourish!

A very fine Indian silver card case, magnificently decorated, clearly made by a master craftsman. One side features the Hindu Goddess Durga astride a lion, with sword in air, she is surrounded by 2 other deities, an antelope, a leopard, a lion mask and 5 birds, one is a peacock, the 2 at the bottom could be phoenix?, all surrounded by scrolls. The reverse side is equally impressive, and features an Indian deity in a temple, surrounded by 6 other deities (some with wings), 2 birds above a blank cartouche for engraved initials, and a variety of fruit and flowers (including berries, strawberry and a thistle). The case is rectangular in shape, the lid pulls off, the fit is very snug, the decoration is seamless through the divide. The sides of the case has 6 symmetrical tube shaped protusions on either side, this is for improved grip, we have noted this feature on other high quality Indian silver card cases. As is usual for Indian silver, there are no hallmarks present. As you can see from the photographs, the qua...

An interesting boxed set of 2 serving spoons, with a very unusual spoon design we have not encountered before. The spoons have gilded bowls, tapered flat stems with a beautiful baluster or urn finial. The box reads "By Appointment, Mappin & Webb Ltd, Queen Victoria Street, London E.C." The hallmarks are clear on both spoons. We welcome information as to if thses spoons were produced for a specific purpose, or were replicas of an earlier spoon. Mappin and Webb was founded in 1859, it still exists today and is one of Britain's most prestigious brands. In addition to Royal Warrants, Mappin and Webb are the Crown Jeweller. Note - We have an identical pair of these spoons, S 11283, but without the box, and dated 1924.