A pair of rare Old English Feather Edge and Cartouche silver tablespoons, made by William Pinder in 1771. The spoons are lovely quality and in excellent condition, we really like these spoons. The cartouche has been chased and engraved by hand, you can see small differences between the 2, notably the size and orientation of the scroll underneath. The cartouches are engraved with a family crest, a Griffin's head erased, this is the family crest of the Nalder Family (Fairbairns crests). Whilst Old English Feather Edge is a common pattern, the addition of the Cartouche, first produced around 1770 by Thomas Northcote, is rare (Silver Flatware, Ian Pickford, page 105). The pattern was revived late 19th century by Carrington, who called it Carrington Shield. The hallmarks are bottom marked, and include clear makers mark WP, with the W and P co-joined for William Pinder, who worked from Bunhill road between 1770 and 1784 (Grimwade page 624). The crowned leopards head and lion passant are partially worn but still cle...

A set of 24 gilded sterling silver medallions, produced to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Wildlife Society of Southern Africa. The medallions are all in perfect condition, and are beautifully engraved, these are extremely high quality. Each weighs 36.5 grammes, has a proof like finish and is gold plated sterling silver. The complete set comes in original wooden box with red leather top and velvet and silk lined interior. The medallions depict 24 different South African wild animals including: baboon, buffalo, cheetah, crocodile, elephant, fish eagle, giraffe, green mamba, hippopotamus, hyena, impala, jackal, kudu, leopard, lion, oryx, rhinoceros, sable antelope, secretary bird, vervet monkey, warthog, waterbuck, wildebeest, and zebra. The reverse depicts the emblem of the Wildlife Society, a stylised sable antelope, surrounded by "ANNIVERSARY 50 HERDENKING". Each medallion also carries 4 hallmarks, "ET+, STG, antelope head, date letter C, being South African sterling hallmarks made by Africana Mint. T...

An Irish Georgian silver basting spoon, in the Fiddle pattern, with a wonderful engraved family crest of a unicorn, this engraving is very clear. The spoon is quite large, with a generous sized serving bowl. The unicorn engraved family crest can be described as "a unicorn's head, couped, maned and horned", this is the family crest of the Cunningham family (or Conyngham), we think the Irish part of the family used Conyngham, whilst their Scottish counterparts used Cunningham. The spoon has 4 hallmarks, the crowned harp, Hibernia (Dublin marks) and date letter I for 1805 are clear and well struck. We note the punch shape on these marks is cavetto, with indented corners, more usually seen in the 1820's with Dublin hallmarks, but the absence of the Duty mark confirms a date before 1807. The makers mark JP is clear, but is overstriking another mark that is no longer visible. John Power worked between 1792 and 1819, from Trinity Place, Dublin, his father and son were also silversmith.

A miniature Continental silver teapot, with a magnificent birds head spout, with lovely detail. The teapot is oval shaped, and is decorated with an attractive band of vertical leaves, with a similar pattern repeated on the lid. The lid is domed and has a ball finial. the handle is dark composite, securely attached with brass pins. The teapot is a pleasing weight and is very good quality, clearly the work of a master craftsman. The makers mark ZV is distinct and clear, this is accompanied by another partially struck mark, a shield with 3 vertical staves under a band, with dots above (a crown?). We have not identified either mark, assistance most welcome! Note - This teapot is very similar to a normal sized teapot by Johann Diedrich Laue, Hamburg circa 1815, lot 1052 in the Woolley & Wallis sale, October 2010, which has a similar shape and acanthus leaf border.

A Cape silver snuff box by Daniel Beets, oval in shape with a three quarter hinged lid, which is well made as it is perfectly flush with the lid, and a small but practical thumbpiece. It is a pleasing design for a snuff box, has a very nice feel in the hand, easy to take in and out of a pocket. This is a fairly rare design for Cape silver snuff boxes, most were rectangular, or had a protruding hinge. This box has been well used, as can be seen from the considerable wear to the engraving, and has been repaired more than once in its lifetime. The lid has remnants of engraved wreath surrounding owners initials and date, no longer legible. The box also has 3 worn engraved stars, typically Cape in style, one either side and on the fixed portion of the lid. The interior has original gilding, a lovely golden yellow colour, quite well preserved on lid and hinge, but only some still present in base and sides, the rest has been lost during repairs. The base shows signs of repairs and splits, so has been re-attached at ...

A silver beaker of extremely high quality, with lobed and reeded body on gadrooned foot, and gilded interior. The beaker is of good weight and has a lovely feel. The beaker has a lovely crest, with the motto "Manners Makyth Man", and a French motto "Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense" (shame upon him who thinks evil of it). The crest, which is well engraved, is that of the Bishop of Winchester, William of Wykeham (Winchester impaling Wykeham). The arms are surrounded by the motto of the Order of the Garter (as the Bishop of Winchester is ex officio Prelate of the Order), his personal motto is beneath the arms. Wykeham founded New College, Oxford and Winchester College, Winchester in 1382, both of which use his personal arms and motto, not those impaled with his bishopric. The French motto is the motto of the "Order of the Knights of the Garter", which was formed in 1348 by King Edward III. Edward Ker Reid, who traded from Fleet Street in London, was the Grandson of Christian Ker Reid of Newcastle, who established Reid...

A very rare Arts & Crafts hand hammered silver sugar bowl, with twin handles, resting on a circular reeded foot. The bowl is by Philip Frederick Alexander, who has been described as "one of the greatest Arts & Crafts silversmiths" (www.antiquesilvercompany.com). The bowl has beautiful spot hammering throughout, leaving a planished appearance, with solid D shaped handles, it is also a pleasing weight. Alexander worked between 1900 and 1920, from Church Row, Hampstead, London. He also lived in Walberswick, Suffolk, both prior and after World War 1. He would have known Charles Rennie Mackintosh, who spent a year in Walberswick during the war. He had a Master of Arts degree from Oxford (unusual for a silversmith), he was also an author of geographical discovery books, including "The Discovery of America and The North West and North East Passages", still available on Amazon (www.styles-silver.co.uk, who also have a few pieces of his work, all unfortunately sold). The hallmarks are excellent, including makers mark...

A set of Cape silver tableforks in the Fiddle pattern, by the well known Cape silversmith Johannes Combrink. The forks are engraved with the initials "FtW", which is attractively engraved. The forks are good quality and a pleasing weight, they are suitable for use. The hallmarks on all 6 forks are clear. Four forks have makers mark IC only (Welz mark 31 in Cape Silver), two have makers mark IC between 2 ladder devices (Welz mark 33). 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 Cape silver Basting (or Serving) spoon in the Old English pattern, this is a good quality spoon suited for use as a serving spoon. The spoon has a colonial feel, it has an unusual rectangular shaped drop, so was probably made before 1820 when English silversmiths arrived in the Cape and influenced styles. The spoon is quite plain, no crests or initials, but it is engraved "IV" on the back of the stem. This engraving is original and quite crude (typically colonial), perhaps done by the owner himself, possibly indicating it was once part of a set. The hallmarks are excellent, makers mark IC between 2 devices (flowers?), mark 27 in "Cape Silver" by Welz. Johan Combrink was a prolific and well regarded Cape silversmith, he worked between 1814 and 1853, and was based in Dorp street.

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 pair of Arts and Crafts antique silver serving spoons, with raised shell finial and planished (hand hammered) bowls, both the front and the back of the bowls. These are good quality, a pleasing weight, and a useful size for use. The hallmarks are clear on both spoons, and include a registration number, indicating Atkin Brothers protected the design.

A Cape silver Basting spoon in the Fiddle pattern, with original owners engraved initials LIA in script. The spoon is a pleasing weight, and is in excellent condition, this spoon has not seen much use at all. The tip of the bowl has a strong lip, this is more a Continental than English feature, and the long rounded drop is also more Continental in style than English. The hallmarks are excellent, makers mark JT and 3 English pseudo hallmarks, duty mark, date letter a and leopards head town mark (Welz mark 121, Cape Silver). John Townsend (1800-1875) was an interesting character, descibed by Heller as one of the top 5 Cape silversmiths. He arrived in the Cape in 1821 on the ship Duke of Marlboro, and was involved in a number of businesses, including a hotel and auctioneering business, in addition to being goldsmith, silversmith, jeweller and watchmaker. He was embroiled in a number of court cases, mostly due to bad debt, in 1849 he stated "insufficient means to support his 10 children". He moved to Okiep in Nam...

A Silver Troyan 20 Ounce 999 Fine Silver Medallion, commemorating three hundred years of mining in South Africa (1683-1983). This is a huge medallion, it makes a fabulous paperweight. The front has 2 prospectors with pick and hammer, and reads "Silver Troyan 20 troy ounces 999 fine silver, 1683-1983, commemorating three hundred years of mining in South Africa". The back has the logo of the Asset Exchange, and reads "The gold and hard asset exchange, Johannesburg South Africa". The rim is hallmarked, crowned C, date letter I and No 03334, these are clearly struck. This medallion was the second in a series of 2, in 1982 the Exchange also issued a 20 Ounce 999 silver medallion commemorating 100 years of electricity in South Africa (note this first medallion was not called a troyan). We believe this troyan was part of a limited edition of 10000, we are not sure if the full edition was produced. We are interested in more information about the gold and hard asset exchange, and the origin of the troyan, all assistan...

Impressive set of good quality Russian flatware, with an applied crest of what appears to be a basket of flowers over a shield, bearing the initials ES. They are of very good gauge, the individual spoons and forks weigh 80 grams each, the knives 130 grams each. The set was made in two different batches 2 years apart, the first 6 (2 of each) was made by Cyprian Labecki in 1883, the second 6 by C.H. Stern in 1885. All were assayed in Warsaw, Poland (which was part of Russia between 1850 and 1915) by O.C. (Josef Sosnkowski), who was the assaymaster in Warsaw between 1860 and 1896. The hallmarks are all clear, the 6 by Labecki have an additional hallmark of a bulls head, the 6 by Stern have a device that looks like a rams head. The knives are silver handled with steel blades (blades by Gerlach and S. Bienkowski). The hallmarks on the spoons and forks are very clear, those on the knife handles are present but worn (still discernable).

A rare pair of ornate cast silver sugar tongs, made in London 1823 by Edward Farrell, who was one of the most celebrated silversmiths of the early 19th century, and whose work is now found in museums all over the world. The tongs feature a well modelled cherub, naked except for a loincloth, holding an arrow above his head and a bow in his other hand, the cherub is 5 cm tall. We have considered if it could be Cupid, but no wings are present. The cherub is surrounded by flowers, foliage and scrolls, and the tongs have shell bowls. The cherub is repeated on both arms. The bow has a blank cartouche. The tongs are clearly hallmarked on both bowls, London 1823 on one bowl and makers mark E.F in shaped punch (Grimwade 585). Grimwade (page 506) describes Farrell silver as "some of the most unusual productions of the Regency period, generally conceived in a kind of revival rococo style. He had a large output of heavy tea services decorated with Dutch peasant scenes in the style of Teniers, and he also produced large ...

A Sampson Mordan silver scent bottle, beautifully engraved with Kate Greenaway images, a girl pulling a smaller girl in a wheeled cart, and another capped girl walking towards a gate, all in front of a brick wall, with a church with spire in the background. The bottle is clearly hallmarked on both the base and the lid. The glass bottle inside is loose and can be removed, it fits exactly into the hole, so we are not sure if it is original or a later replacement. Kate Greenaway was a Victorian artist and writer, her 1879 book "Under the Window" a collection of simple, perfectly idyllic verses about children, was a bestseller. "Kate Greenaway" children, all of them girls and boys too young to be put in trousers, were dressed in her own versions of late 18th century and Regency fashions: smock-frocks and skeleton suits for boys, high-waisted pinafores and dresses with mobcaps and straw bonnets for girls - source Wikipedia. Sampson Mordan became famous for producing high quality, innovative novelty items, many of ...

A antique silver cigarette case, presented to a South African World War I soldier who won the Military Medal for bravery displayed at Menin Road. The inscription reads "Pte. J.J. Cronje, M.M. 4 SAI, From the Ladies of the Riversdale Red + Soc:, In Appreciation of Bravery Displayed at Menin Road, June 10th 1919". Private Cronje was part of the 4th South African Infantry Regiment, part of the larger South African Brigade, best remembered for their role in the Battle of Delville Wood in 1916, but with battle honours for Egypt, Somme, Delville Wood, Arras, Ypres, Menin Road, Cambrai, Mons and Flanders. The 4th SAI was known as the "South African Scottish", as it was raised from the Cape Town Highlanders and Transvaal Scottish Regiments, with additional recruits from Caledonian societies. Riversdale is a small farming town in the Western Cape province, en route between Cape Town and the Garden Route. We assume for the inscription it was Cronje's home town, and that the ladies of the local Red Cross Society arrange...

A fabulous set of 6 arts and crafts sterling silver teaspoons, made specially for leading Boston retailer Shreve, Crump & Low by Whiting of New York. The spoons are beautiful, the stems are hand hammered (planished) on both the back and front, and have an applied cast silver floral arrangement with flowers, leaves and berries. The bowls are gilded, these are high quality spoons and would have been expensive when new. All 6 spoons are clearly hallmarked, both with the Whiting lion holding W trademark, and retailers mark "SHREVE. CRUMP & LOW". All 6 spoons are also hallmarked "STERLING". We have not been able to identify this pattern, it does not appear in the Whiting pattern index, so we believe it was specially commissiuoned by Shreve, Crump & Low as an item exclusively available in their store in Boston. Shreve, Crump & Low is the oldest purveyor of luxury goods in USA, having been founded in 1796, it adopted this name in 1869. They still exist today, and describe themselves as "The gem of Boston and America...

An Art Deco silver and bakelite Globe teapot, made in Germany during the 1930's. The teapot is completely spherical, the spout has a triangular opening in the top for opening. The base is a circular bakelite disk, with silver nut which screws onto teapot, the bakelite handle is ear shaped and the bakelite finial is half moon shaped. The teapot is quite small, single serving size. The teapot has 2 hallmarks, 800 purity mark and makers mark of what looks like interlocking SHF in circle (but could be different sequence?).

A rare set of 6 Victorian Military Fiddle Thread antique silver table forks, each over 90 grammes in weight, they have a lovely feel in the hand. The forks have an engraved family crest of a lion rampant, this is crisp and very clear. The hallmarks on all 6 forks are excellent, and include makers marks GA (George Adams) for Chawner & Co, the most important firm of silver spoon and fork manufacturers in Victorian England, known for excellent quality (these fine forks are no exception), See Culme, Gold & Silversmiths, page 82. Military Fiddle and Thread pattern has scrolls instead of shoulders, as do all military variants, this pattern is described by Pickford (Silver Flatware pg 117) as "a scarce variant of the Fiddle Thread pattern, building a service would be difficult".