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 pair of Arts and Crafts sterling silver condiment spoons, made by the little known silversmith Denis Lacy-Hulbert. The spoons have oval shallow bowls, and flat rectangular stems which are planished (hand hammered), very similar in style to Puritan spoons. The hallmarks form part of the decoration, proudly struck on the front of the stems, evenly spaced, these are very clear, and include makers mark D L-H and the optional Silver Jubilee mark used in 1977 to celebrate 25 years on the throne for Queen Elizabeth II. Note - we have a very similar pair, just smaller in size, S 11274. 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 b...

An Arts & Crafts English sterling silver cream or milk jug, at first glance it looks Scandinavian in design, with beautiful clean lines. This is typical of Eric Clements style, he is best remembered for his award winning Mappin and Webb tea and coffee service (this jug is a similar but different design). The jug is a delight to use, it pours beautifully. The hallmarks are excellent, and include "Designed by Eric Clements" facsimile signature, and "Mappin & Webb". Eric Clements is one of the 50 leading silversmiths profiled in the book "Designer British Silver, 1930-1985", by Andrew & Styles, a book which we highly recommend. "Clements was unusual in that he designed silver, and then had the designs manufactured by a craftsman, most silversmiths prefer to produce their own designs. He also had a dual career as educator and designer, he spent most of his career as Head of Industrial Design at Birmingham College of Art. Alongside his academic career he was consultant designer for Mappin and Webb, it is his desig...

An interesting antique silver military spoon, awarded as a shooting trophy. The spoon is Fiddle pattern, dessert size, this is a good quality spoon. The spoon is beautifully engraved with an interesting crest, quartered with rampant lions, leopard's heads and chevrons, with central bugle, below a plant (leek?) star and crown, and above DLI (we assume Durban Light Infantry?). The spoon is also engraved "WON BY R.S.M. WHITE (N.S.C.C.)" - for Regimental Sargeant Major White, we assume the Natal Schools Cadet Corps. We have not been able to positively identify the crest, all hep most welcome, DLI could also be Dublin or Durham Light Infantry. The spoon has very clear hallmarks.

An antique 9 carat gold and enamel burgee flag brooch or pin, for the Royal Yacht Squadron. The brooch is fabulous quality and in excellent condition, the flag has waves in it so it appears to be fluttering. The gold base and pin shows details of the rope, and the enamel flag has 4 colours - red cross on white background with gold crown with black detail. The brooch is fully hallmarked with makers mark JWB, crown 375 nine carat gold marks, Birmingham anchor and date letter k for 1909. "The Royal Yacht Squadron is one of the most prestigious yacht clubs in the world. Its clubhouse is Cowes Castle on the Isle of Wight in the United Kingdom. Member yachts are given the Suffix RYS to their names, and permitted to wear the White Ensign of the Royal Navy rather than the merchant Red Ensign worn by the majority of other UK registered vessels. The club's patron is Queen Elizabeth II and the club's admiral is Prince Philip who is also a former club commodore." (source wikipedia). The club was founded in 1815, an early...

An Ilias Lalaounis "Greek Gold" Arts & Crafts silver beaker, in 900 silver and gilded with a deep golden colour, with hand hammered planished surface. The beaker is a delight to hold, it is bulbous in shape, with flat bottomed base. This beaker (or small vase) is part of Lalaounis's Archaeological collection, where he made replicas of ancient Greek art, this piece dates to the Cycladic period, 3000B.C. The beaker is clearly hallmarked with Lalaounis makers mark and 900 silver standard mark. The beaker is also accompanied with it's original guarantee certificate, where it is described as a "silver gold plated cigarette vase of Cycladic Period 3000 B.C." This certificate shows a number of Lalaounis outlets, Athens, Mykonos, Rhodes and Corfu in Greece, but also Geneva, Zurich, Liberty's in London Regent Street, France, Vienna and Brussels - showing how successful Lalaounis was. Lalaounis opened a store in New York in 1979, so we know this certificate predates 1979. Wikipedia records that Lalaounis was internatio...

A unique sterling silver inaugural key, made to commemorate the opening of the UNISA (University of South Africa) OR Tambo administrative building on the Muckleneuk Campus, Pretoria, in 1980, and presented to South African Minister of Finance Owen Horwood. A series of parallel bars replicate the shape of this iconic building with it's triangular top, this sits on top of a circular hand hammered disc, which represents the rising moon. The key portion is pierced "UNISA September 1980". The key is fabulous quality, and clearly made by hand. The back of the circular moon disc is engraved "To the Hon OPF Horwood in commemoration of the official opening of the Administration building". The key is clearly hallmarked "E Frey Silver 925". The key is perfectly preserved in it's original box, which itself is fabulous quality, a brown grained hardwood with red velvet interior, the base with felt and original "Erich Frey Pretoria" sticker, the empty box is just under 500 grammes, hinges and clasp in full working order. Th...

A Queen Elizabeth 2 1975 Round The World Maiden Cruise sterling silver commemorative medallion, in it's original box. The medallion shows the QE2 ship on a globe with lines of longitude and latitude, the reverse has a map of the world showing the route, with the port of calls as follows: "SOUTHAMPTON / CHERBOURG NEW YORK / PORT EVERGLADES CURACAO / SALVADOR BAHIA RIO DE JANEIRO CAPE TOWN / DURBAN MOMBASA MAHE SEYCHELLES BOMBAY COLOMBO, and continuing below: SINGAPORE BALI HONG KONG KOBE YOKOHAMA / HONOLULU LOS ANGELES ACAPULCO BALBOA / CRISTOBAL CARTAGENA PORT EVERGLADES / NEW YORK CHERBOURG / SOUTHAMPTON". The QE2 visited 23 ports in 92 days during the maiden voyage, it served from 1969-2008. This medallion is catalogued as Laidlaw 0616. The medallion is clearly hallmarked on the rim, YM for Yorkshire Mint, who specialised in commemorative medallions in the 1970's. The medallion also has a Birmingham anchor hallmark separately on the rim, but no edition number (which we have noted on other ...

A sterling silver bowl with a genuine embedded diamond, made to commemorate the centenary of the De Beers diamond company in 1988. The bowl (or dish) is circular, and is engraved in the centre with "DBCMLd" in Gothic script (the logo of De Beers Consolidated Mines Limited), the rim is engraved with 4 bands. The edge is engraved 1888 - 1988, with the brilliant round cut diamond between the dates (diameter of the diamond is 3.5 mm, it sparkles beautifully). The dish is clearly hallmarked with makers mark "EM*ESS" for Em-Ess silverware company, the largest South African silverware producer in the 1970's and 1980's, based in Johannesburg. It also has the Springbok head in U South African standard mark for sterling silver, 925 purity mark and date letter P for 1988. We are aware that this dish was also produced with London hallmarks, it looks identical in design, so we assume De Beers commissioned this dish both in London and South Africa, they were awarded to key customers, including site dealers in Antwerp.

A set of 6 antique silver teaspoons, with finials modelled as British soldiers at the time of the Boer War, described as "Soldiers of the Queen" when originally produced. We believe these spoons were produced to raise funds for the war effort. The soldiers are well modelled, back and front, with good detail, including moustache, chest cross band and putties. The spoons are gilded, and have twisted stems. All 6 spoons are clearly hallmarked on the back of the bowls for Birmingham 1900, this includes a registration mark Rd 352723, which indicates Devenport protected their design. To us the soldiers look like they are wearing the red British uniform with white cross in use at the start of the Boer War, before the change to Khaki to provide better camoflage. British soldiers in red with a white cross on their chests made inviting targets to the Boer marksmen.

A fabulous quality Georgian silver dinner plate or dish, in the traditional shape with applied gadroon border and contemporary family armorial and Royal coronet indicating a son of the Sovereign. The armorial is the Marital arms of Evans-Freke and Gore, the Royal Cypher is for HRH Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex. Whilst these are called plates, it is more of a dish or bowl in shape, and is the smaller diameter, so probably used for a starter dish - but very suitable for use as a bowl today. It must have belonged to a large set, as the base is engraved "No 64", along with 18.10. The hallmarks are clear, the makers mark has been partially double struck with a partial repeated G and pellet above, but still clearly Grimwade mark 852 for George Methuen. He was freed as a large worker in 1743, he worked until 1761, so this dish was produced in his last year of work. Grimwade notes his principal output was salvers, dinner plates and dishes, and notes "his work shows a high standard of design and finish, i...

A sterling silver stirrup cup with cast foxes head, on bell shaped cup. The fox has good detail and texture, the cup is a pleasing quality and weight. The cup is designed to stand both ways, so can stand upright on a tray when filled. This is a modern version, with clear hallmarks for Sheffield 1979, and is in excellent condition. Stirrup cups originated in the late 18th century, they are drinking vessels which were presented to riders on horseback prior to leaving or arriving home from a hunt, this happened whilst their feet remained in their stirrups. Most stirrup cups were crafted in shapes that were relevant to the hunt, such as a hound or fox head, as is represented here. Francis Howard was established in 1900 and still trades today from Sheffield.

An interesting set of 3 antique sterling silver serving implements, in the rare Venetian/Italian pattern. They consist of a fabulous quality stilton cheese scoop (81 grammes), and matching pickle fork and butter spreader, all beautifully preserved in original felt and silk lined case. The pattern is very intricate, and is repeated on both sides, at first glance it is similar to Elizabethan pattern, both are Renaissance and Baroque in style. Unlike Elizabethan this pattern has a circular cartouche, repeated on both sides, this has not been engraved. Venetian/Italian pattern was registered in 1868, most pieces are by Martin Hall&Co, this is a scarce pattern (Pickford, Silver Flatware, page 94). Pickford aslo describes a subtle difference between Venetian and Italian (this is difficult to see without a photo of both). The box reads "Mappin & Webb, Manufacturing Goldsmiths & Silversmiths, London, Sheffield & Johannesburg". The hallmarks are clear on all 3 items. We love this set, a delight to hold and use.

A collection of 4 Italian silver miniature horses, with lovely detail. The 2 smaller horses with jockey's are sterling 925, both of these are made in Arezzo by maker 122, both are on stands. The 2 larger horses are both 800 grade silver, they have no stands or jockeys, but stand beautifully on their feet (and tail for 1). One is made by Arezzo maker 373, the other by Vincenza maker 54, Menegutti Filli, who worked between 1949 and 2008. All 4 have small but clear hallmarks, post 1968. The weight of the 2 small sterling horses is 58 grammes, the 2 larger 800 grade horses weigh 127 grammes.

An interesting Royal Cape Golf Club silver commemorative medallion, celebrating it's 100 year anniversary in 1985. The obverse depicts 2 golfers with trees in the background, this is a faithful reproduction of the oldest known photograph showing golf being played in South Africa, which is owned by the Royal Cape Golf Club (see https://www.royalcapegolf.co.za/about). The medallion reads "LT. GEN SIR HENRY D'O TORRENS, FOUNDER OF THE CAPE GOLF CLUB, 14 NOV 1885, FIRST MONTHLY MEDAL, WATERLOO GREEN". The reverse has the logo of the Royal Cape Golf Club, with "100 CENTENARY 1885-1985". The medallion is hallmarked "SILVER", and has the number 115 stamped on the side. The medallion is perfectly preserved in it's original box, which reads "McCallum and Stevens Cape Town". The medallion is good quality and is also a good weight. Henry Torrens (1823-1889) was a British Army officer and Colonial Governor, he served in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and was awarded the French Legion of Honour in the Crimean war. He served i...

A Cape silver konfyt (preserve) fork in the Old English pattern, with 4 tines. The fork is good quality and is in excellent condition, with clear hallmarks. The fork has original owners engraved initials CB. The hallmarks consist of makers mark IC in between 2 castle devices (Welz mark 35, Cape Silver and Silversmiths). Johannes Combrink was born in the Cape in 1781, he married Aurelia Lotter in 1807 and died in 1853. He worked from Dorp Street.

A rare Carolean silver flat lidded tankard, made in London in 1668, which was part of Oxford's University Magdalen College silver plate. The tankard is the traditional shape of the period, tapering cylindrical with reeded borders, the flat lid with single step and single peak (lip). The flat hinge and hinge plates are cast, designed to withstand wear and tear. The thumbpiece is a double cusp. The massive scroll handle has underside curved into a half round, with hole, these handles were made in two pieces (myth has it that the hole was a whistle to call for more beer!, Waldron, Price Guide to Antique Silver, item 620, page 196). The tankard has been later engraved with the Magdalen College armorial, it reads "Magd: Coll: Athletic Sports, March 1861", and the lid is engraved with a wheatsheaf between wings armorial, the engraving is excellent quality and is beautifully preserved. The tankard has a full set of hallmarks on lid and base, Leopards head crowned and lion passant in irregular punch, date letter L fo...

A Cape silver tablespoon in the Fiddle pattern, with unascribed maker mark I.D. The spoon has original owners engraved initials, now worn, first letter probably A. The makers mark is very distinctive, I.D in serrated punch, between 2 five pointed stars. This mark is not described in any of the Cape silver textbooks. The reason for ascribing this maker to Cape is that 3 known examples have now appeared, and all were sourced in the Cape, hence the attribution. The first was posted in the WWW.925-1000 silver forum in 2012 by a Cape based South African dealer, where Dognose tentatively ascribed it to American silversmith Jabez Delano (1763-1848), see the post http://9251000.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=31240. The photographs supplied have now been used on the ancestry website for Jabez Delano, in our view in error. A second tablespoon appeared on the website of South Africa's leading silver dealer, The Old Corkscrew, described as Cape but unascribed (we agree), item S373, www.theoldcorkscrew.co.za. This spoon is...

A lovely Victorian silver and enamel vesta case, featuring a seated pug on a red chair, with sky and trees in the background. The enamel is oval, with a twisted rope border, the vesta is rectangular with rounded corners, and a safety ring for connection to a chain. This is a substantial vesta case, larger than the traditional size, and quite heavy in the hand. The striker plate on the base is stamped "SIRUS PATENT", which we have observed on other vesta cases by Horton & Allday, it is a nice size and oval in shape, so easy to use. The rim is clearly hallmarked, including makers mark H&A for Horton & Allday, who worked between 1888 and 1933, they seem to have specialised in vesta cases and boxes.

A Cape silver tablespoon in the Old English pattern, with rare Cape hallmarks not shown by Welz in his book "Cape Silver and Silversmiths". The spoon has been well used, and has a small split (see condition description). The spoon has original owners initials CW engraved on it, the C is larger than the W, so probably done by the owner himself (overall quite quaint). The hallmarks consist of makers mark IL co-joined in oval punch, in between 2 "birds foot" devices, these marks are well struck and clear. The IL makers mark is mark 71 Welz, but the birds foot device is not recorded (Lotter also used a floral hallmark which is recorded). However, the birds foot device used by Lotter is recorded by Morrison (Silversmiths and Goldsmiths of the Cape of Good Hope, 1936, page 57, where this makers mark is pictured). A variant of this mark is also recorded by Heller (History of Cape Silver, 1949, page 151, mark MM40, which shows an extra arm to the birds foot). We can only assume this is a rare mark that was not seen b...