A set of 6 Prussian silver teaspoons, made in Danzig, now Gdansk, Poland. The spoons are a lovely shape, with long elegant pointed terminals and elongated bowls, more similar to grapefruit or fruit spoons, or lemoen lepels in Dutch. The spoons have bright cut engraving, designed to reflect in candle light, and cartouche for initials. The original owners prick engraved initials G.V. J are very faintly visible. The spoons have 3 hallmarks, most marks are clear, some partially obscured. They include Danzig town mark (2 maltese crosses below crown) in irregular shield, used between 1790 and 1799, makers mark JGS in script, and a large cursive E, we believe this is the assay master mark rather than a date letter, all suggestions welcome. We have identified a Danzig silversmith Johannes Gottlieb Stegmann whose makers mark was JGS, he worked between 1772 and 1804, but his published mark (www.agraart.pl/silver), is different, not the script style as here, so it is possible we have mis-identified the silversmith, all...

A fabulous Belle Epoque French silver 950 standard flatware set for 6, in the beautiful Louis XV pattern, by renowned Parisian silversmith Emile Puiforcat. This 12 piece luncheon or dessert set has 6 spoons and forks, finely decorated on both sides with scrolls and foliage, the pattern also extends around the top of the bowls, which is quite unusual. Louis XV is an early Puiforcat pattern, long out of production, so rarely seen today. The spoons and forks are lovely quality, the forks have long elegant tines, and are in excellent condition, with no monogrammes. Two hallmarks are present, makers mark EP in diamond lozenge, with penknife (un canif) between the letters, and French Minerve 1st Standard mark, with 1 next to forehead, indicating 950 purity (so higher purity than sterling 925). 4 Spoons and 4 forks have both marks clearly struck, 2 spoons and 2 forks have no hallmarks. Emile Puiforcat established his business in 1857 at 18 Rue Chapon, it still exists today and is known as of of the leading French si...

A beautiful pair of Salters Company silver spoons, with the Salters Company coat of arms, and motto "Sal Sapit Omnia" (salt flavours all) on a banner wrapped around the stem. The bowls have a traditional shell design, these are very attractive spoons. The back of the armorial is embossed with the date "May 12 1853", which commemorates the date the Salters Company acquired ownership of it's Irish estates. The spoons are very good quality, are a good weight, and are perfectly preserved in their original box. The box reads "Carrington & Co. To his Majesty the King and Her Majesty Queen Alexandra, 130 Regent St W". Carrington & Co was established in 1873 by John Bodman Carrington, it still trades today. They were a very prestigious firm when these spoons were made, they had Royal warrants from Queen Victoria, Kings Edward VII and George V, as well as Czar Nicholas of Russia. The Salters Company is one of the 12 great livery companies of London, ranked 9th in order of precedence. Their origins were in the salt tr...

An interesting set of 6 Danish silver coin bowls, each with a different 2 Kronor Danish coin. The bowls have a textured gadrooned rope border, and sit on a small circular foot that protects the coins. The bowls are 830 standard silver. The coins range in date from 1875 to 1958, and include: 1. Christian IX 1875, 2. Christian IX 1903, 1863-1903 , 3.Christian IX / Frederik VIII 1906, 4. Christian X 1870-1930, 5. Christian X 1912-1937, 6. Frederik IX Princesse Margrethe 1958. All 6 bowls are clearly hallmarked "SKAARUP 830S". Jacob Skaarup worked in Copenhagen between 1927 and 1948, given one of the bowls is 1958 we assume the business carried on beyond 1948.

A lovely set of 6 antique sterling silver coffee spoons (also called demitasse or 5 o'clock teaspoons), in the Marguerite pattern, which was designed by William Codman in 1901. The pattern has flowers and foliage, these are dainty and pretty spoons. No monogrammes are present, and all 6 spoons are clearly hallmarked "STERLING PAT. 1901", and the Gorham lion, anchor and gothic G. Gorham Corporation, which still exists today, was founded in 1831, they dominated the solid silver flatware market in the USA for 125 years (Gorham Silver, page 50).

Two interesting pairs of sterling silver wine labels, we have grouped them together as they are almost identical in style and we believe they were made by the same maker. All the labels are kidney shaped, and have a double reeded border. The first pair are gilded, chains are also gilded, the chains are shorter on this pair. They are engraved "Tia Maria" and Mandarine", both names are unrecorded in the book "Wine Labels 1730-2003", although "Mandarinette" is recorded. The second pair are engraved "Chartreuse" and "Kirsch", the engraving has black fill, the chains are longer on this pair. All 4 labels are hallmarked "925" indicating sterling silver, no other marks are present.

A sterling silver tray, engraved "Troon Golf Club", above the club crest and motto "TAM ARTE QUAM MARTE", translated "as much by skill as by strength". The dish is rectangular with octagonal sides, the rim is engine turned with a wavy pattern. The tray is small, we imagine a pin tray, or perhaps to hold golf tees. The crest consists of 5 golf clubs entwined by a snake, the coiled snake comes from the Arms of the Duke of Portland who originally owned the land and sold it to the club, becoming the first Patron of Troon Golf Club. The hallmarks are clear. Troon Golf club was established in 1878, and frequently hosts the British Open Championship (8 hosted so far, Hendrik Stenson won the 2016 Open at Troon). The par 3 eighth "Postage Stamp" is one of the most famous of all golf holes. Troon was awarded Royal status in 1978 to celebrate it's centenary, hence the lack of Royal on this dish made in 1933. The British Open Golf Championship is once again being held at Royal Troon in 2024.

A fabulous sterling silver basting spoon (gravy or serving spoon) in the popular Fiddle, Thread and Shell pattern, with engraved Marais Family coat of arms, which is very clear. The basting spoon is a substantial size and weight, the quality is excellent. The hallmarks are very clear, including makers mark D&J W, for Daniel & John Wellby, who worked between 1827 and 1974 from Garrick Street, London. The Marais family coat of arms is described as "Azure, a chain sable fesswise, in chief a crescent reversed and a base of two hills vert" - Pama, Heraldry of South African Families, page 53, depicted on Plate 18, no 280, of the Bell Krynauw Collection. It dates back to Charles Marais of the farm Plasir de Merle, who arrived in the Cape in 1688, and was "murdered by a Hottentot on the farm in 1689". Note - we have other matching items with the Marais Family armorial.

An interesting 17th century traveling knife and fork, in leather sheath, with matching pin in the front of the sheath (for attachment to belt?). The knife, fork and pin have lion heads with open mouth, made in brass or bronze above mixed material handles, dark grained wood, lighter carved wood, brass pins, circular plugs (yellow material), diamond steel, quite an attractive design. The steel blade has a distinctive makers mark, II IS with a cross in-between, with dots in triangular shape either end, some dots above and below as well (we welcome assistance with identification, thanks). The blade also has a hookat the handle end. The fork is 2 pronged, with a pierced heart shaped connection to handle, with engraving. The leather sheath is also lovely, finely decorated with scrolls, dots and zig-zags. This is not our area of expertise, but we have seen similar sets in the book "Eight Centuries of European Knives, Forks and Spoons by Klaus Marquardt, for example the 16th century Italian examples have very simila...

An antique Dutch silver miniature horse and carriage, made in Hoorn late 19th century. The carriage is drawn by 2 prancing horses, with good detail, ropes and whip all intact. The quality is excellent, very solid, just under 100 grammes, so quite heavy for a miniature. The carriage has a driver and guard standing at the rear, and 2 passengers inside. The carriage is attractively engraved, and all 4 wheels turn perfectly. All 4 wheels are hallmarked with the Dutch dagger, used between 1814 and 1953. The carriage bar connecting to the horses also has the Dutch dagger, along with clear makers mark V.S.39, for Gebruder (Brothers) van Straten, who worked in Hoorn between 1885 and 1891 (Netherlands Responsibility Marks Since 1797, mark 20717). The Gebruder van Straten appear to have specialised in miniatures, a number are now in the collection of various museums. A set of miniature chairs and table by the Gebruder Van Straten was formerly in the collection of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, sold at a Sotheby's Ch...

A fabulous pair of Scottish silver Hanoverian tablespoons, made in Edinburgh in 1753. The spoons have the traditional central rib, and double drop, the spoon bowls are oval in shape. These are quality spoons, around 75 grammes each.Both spoons are engraved with a family crest and motto, the crests are worn from polishing but still legible. The crest is a "broken terrestrial globe surmounted by a rainbow issueing out of clouds", above motto "AT SPES INFRACTA", translated "Yet my Hope is Unbroken". Above the globe is an Earls coronet, showing these spoons were owned by John Hope, 2nd Earl of Hopetoun, who lived between 1704 and 1781, he became Earl in 1742. The hallmarks on both spoons include makers mark K&D for Ker & Dempster, who worked between 1749 and 1771. This is followed by castle town mark, assay master mark HG for Hugh Gordon, who worked between 1744 and 1758. The 4th mark is date letter Y for 1753, this is slightly worn but still visible. Hopetoun House, which was completed by the 2nd Earl, still exi...

A sterling silver wine coaster, with a finely pierced attractive border, and a central circular silver plaque (for engraving). The coaster has a wooden base with 4 circular grooves, the base has blue felt to protect the table. The silver plaque has never been engraved. The condition is pleasing, often these coasters have suffered damage to the piercing, this one is in excellent condition. The hallmarks are clear, Springbok head (South African standard mark post 1975), S925, and makers mark E T in separate punches, for E Tiessen, Manufacturing Jewellers who worked from 14 Juta Street, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, in the 1970's. This style of pierced wine coaster first appeared in the 1780's. Note - we have received correspondance from a leading collector that this piece is possibly not by E Tiessen, but by maker E, with T being date letter for 1994 - possibly J&L Martin of EM-ESS silversmiths, who were leading silversmiths, noted for quality holloware, they are known to have exhibited at the Rand Easter Show (1...

A Liberty & Co Arts and Crafts sterling silver milk (or cream) jug, with a planished (hand hammered) squat circular body, with a high pouring lip. The jug is decorated with embossed celtic style buttons (4) and matching border, with a little heart shaped design. The jug sits on 3 button feet, and has a plain handle. The jug is clearly hallmarked with Liberty's distinctive L&Co in diamond shaped punch mark, along with Birmingham hallmarks for 1928. The jug also has a design number, 50014, perhaps some-one with access to the Liberty archives will be able to do further research. Arthur Liberty used his shop to showcase the work of leading designers, including Archibald Knox, Rex Silver, Bernard Cuzner and Jessie King (Liberty's, Biography of a Shop, A Adburgham, 1975, pg 81). It is possible this jug was designed by one of these designers. The Liberty store founded in 1875, and still thrives today. Their current Tudor Revival building on Great Marlborough Street was completed in 1924, using the timbers of 2 wars...

A mixed set of 6 Irish sterling silver spoons, 2 large mustard spoons, 2 smaller mustard spoons, and 2 small saltspoons (the last 2 a matching pair). The matching salt spoons are Dublin 1925 by Wakely & Wheeler, the 2 smaller mustard are by William Cummins (1829) and Samuel Neville (1832), the 2 larger mustard spoons are Christopher Cummins (1837) and JS (1867). 1 Spoon has a family crest, 2 have engraved initials and 3 are unengraved. All the hallmarks are clear.

Two Chinese Export silver dessert forks in the Fiddle pattern, which we have grouped together as we believe they are by the same maker, Sunshing. The forks have slightly different sizes, shape and weight, the longer fork is slightly heavier at 46 grammes. The smaller fork has engraved script initials PK, this is worn. The larger fork has a turn up end, the smaller turn down, so 2 very different interpretations of Fiddle pattern , interesting to compare. The larger fork has clear makers mark SS, with distinctive font, for Sunshing, and 3 pseudo marks, duty mark, crowned leopards head (struck upsidedown, and indistinct), and a strange lion passant (without tail), these pseudo marks are different from the ones usually used by Sunshing, the punches are also showing signs of wear. The second fork has 4 pseudo marks but no makers mark, the 4 hallmarks are those usually associated with Sunshing (pseudo lion passant, crowned leopards head, date letter C and Georgian duty mark) - see www.925-1000.com. These marks are...

A fabulous pair of antique silver tea knives (or butter knives), made in Sheffield but retailed in Oban, Scotland by R Drummond & Son. The knives have green hardstone handles, beautifully shaped, we guess Scottish green agate. The blades are nicely shaped and engraved, the hallmarks (which are excellent on both knives) are camoflagued in the engraving. The blades are blunt, so made for spreading, not for cutting, in the days everyone had their own knife for tea. The backs of both blades are clearly punched "R Drummond & Son, Oban", so we know they were retailed from their jewellery store in Queens Park, Oban. They also had a store in Stirling which traded between 1865 and 1904. Their advert has survived, and reads "Goldsmiths, Watchmakers and Opticians". Levesley Brothers worked between 1897 and 1916. The set is perfectly preserved in its original box.

An Arts & Crafts silver sauce boat, with planished (hand hammered) body and a beautiful curvi-linear bi-furcating handle. The sauce boat has 3 feet, and is the traditional shape with a deep lip, very suitable for pouring. The hand hammered body and handle picks up the light, this is a lovely item. The handle is Art Nouveau in shape and style. The hallmarks are very well struck and clear, including makers mark G.U for George Unite & Sons, the business was founded in 1825 by George Unite, who apprenticed with Joseph Willmore, it still trades today.

A lovely Queen Anne replica teapot, itself antique as over 100 years old, a faithful copy of the earliest known English silver teapots. The teapot is small, due to the rarity of tea during the period, it would be termed bachelor size today. The teapot is pear shaped, with a domed lid topped by urn finial, stand-away hinge, raised circular foot, and octagonal curved spout. The wooden handle is the traditional shape, with thumb piece for easy pouring. The weight and quality are excellent, this teapot is a pleasure to use. An original teapot, dated 1715 and valued at over GBP 12000, is depicted in the book "Price Guide to Antique Silver, Peter Waldron, page 269, this replica is an almost exact copy. The hallmarks are clear, including makers mark JA for James Aitchison of Princes Street, Edinburgh, Goldsmith to the Queen (Victoria), Prince of Wales and Duke of Edinburgh. Aitchison worked between 1877 and 1910, he was a town councillor, and was involved in the building of Usher Hall. His home in Edinburgh is now t...

An interesting Needham's Patent mechanical silver calling card case, with a ribbed sliding mechanism to push out a calling card. The case is rectangular, with a hinged lid, the sliding mechanism is easy to control with the thumb. Both the case and lid are clearly hallmarked, the lid is also stamped PATENT. These have also been described as vesta cases for long vestas, the slide being the matchstrike, we think this attribution is incorrect. Henry Williamson worked between 1894 and 1914, so a career cut off by the advent of World War I. Note - we have 2 similar examples of this needhams patent card case.

A set of 13 sterling silver Apostle spoons, as follows: The Master, St. Peter, St. John, St. Matthew, St. Andrew, St. Philip, St. Jude, St. James the Greater, St. James the Less, St. Matthias, St. Simon, St. Thomas, and St. Bartholomew. The Apostles are well modeled, with lovely detail, as can be seen from the photographs. For example, St. Peter has keys, St. Simon a saw, St Andrew a cross, St. Jude an axe, and St. James a staff and bible. The spoons are from a set (no 117), issued by The Heritage Collection in 1978, limited to 1000 sets. The hallmarks are clear, and include maker mark CM (Cape Mint, part of the Pagliari Group), STG for Sterling silver, antelope head for South Africa, and date letter E for 1978. All the spoons have the Apostle's name engraved on the stem, and the set number 117. They come complete with original signed certificate and explanatory booklet, with information on all the apostles, origin and how they were made, also the original advertising letter. Note: We have sold a previous set...