Small Arts and Crafts basket, possibly Norwegian, with swing handle. The basket is spot hammered and has an attractive embossed 5 dome design. The base is stamped 830, and both the interior and the handle are hallmarked with a script V, the Dutch import mark (post 1906).

An interesting silver spoon, commemorating the 7th Battalion, The Duke of Cambridge Own Middlesex Regiment. The spoon has the regimental badge, a Roman soldier with shield and sword, surrounded by the motto "Pro Rege Patria et Laribus", translated "For King, Home and Country". A laurel wreath surrounds this, and the Royal crown sits on top. The spoon also carries the motto "South Africa 1900", signifying battle honours won during the Boer War, and "1798", which commemorates the Hampstead Volunteers of 1798, the founders of the Regiment. The regiment is known as the "Die Hards", a nickname earned during the Peninsula wars at Albuera in 1811. During the Boer War they were involved in the Relief of Ladysmith, and the attack on Spioenkop. The 7th Battalion were formed in 1907, it was a volunteer Battalion, and also a "special reserve" Battalion, whose duty was supplying drafts to the 4 front line Battalions in time of need. In 1911 (the year the spoon was made, so we assume it commemorates this event), the 7th be...

A silver thimble, size 11, with an unusual and attractive "pierced skirt" or "garland of flowers", the garlands decorated with tiny flowers, with leaves suspended between the garlands. The hallmarks are clear, but have some wear. The makers mark CH is very clear. The hallmarks are accompanied by size mark "11". Charles Horner invented the "Dorcas" thimble in the 1880's, the business became famous for thimbles, hatpins and enamels. It was located in Halifax, Yorkshire, as a consequence most Horner silver is hallmarked in Chester. We have been informed that this border is called Vandyke.

A lovely set of classic deco coffee spoons, in original box. All 6 spoons are clearly hallmarked.

Plain Cape silver tablefork in the Old English pattern, with original owners initials lightly scratched on back (MF). Hallmark very clear, makers mark struck twice, either side of a flower (or bunch of grapes). Jan Lotter was an excellent silversmith who made most of the cape orangespoons (lemoenlepels) found today. He traded from Keerom St.

Beautiful set of dainty Art Deco cake forks, in original box. Very clear hallmarks on all 6 forks. Charles Fletcher took over the firm Brewis and Co in 1907, the firm still exists today.

Beautiful pair of heavy egg spoons with Madras Artillery crest, in the Fiddle, Thread and Shell pattern. Very clear hallmarks. George Adams was the proprietor of Chawner and Co., the most important firm of silver spoon and fork manufacturers in Victorian England.

A rare Cape silver berry teaspoon, in the Fiddle pattern, with gilded berried bowl and decorated handle. The spoon must be well travelled in it's early life, as the spoon was made in Cape Town circa 1830, and probably "berried" in London in mid to late Victorian times, when the practice of "berrying" was popular (this practice is unknown in Cape silver). Plain Georgian silver spoons were embossed and chased with fruit and foliate scrolls (Pickford, Silver Flatware, pg 70), and the bowl was gilded to complete the effect. The hallmarks are very clear, makers mark FW and pseudo English hallmarks (leopards head, date letter a, duty mark and lion passant), these are mark 163 (Cape silver by Welz). These are the same punches used earlier by Twentyman, Waldek took over Twentyman's shop and workshop in 1836.

Delightful silver handled (hook is steel) boot button hook, shaped as a leopard's head, of exceptional quality. The cast leopard's head has fine detail, including the 4 teeth and tongue. Buttonhooks were an essential Victorian accessory, used for buttons on boots and tight fitting clothing. The only hallmark present is an English Lion passant, which is worn, but still visible.

A fine example of a Scottish Georgian Silver toddy ladle, by very fine makers. The ladle is Fiddle pattern, and is engraved with the initial C, in contempory style. Toddy ladles are uniquely Scottish, used for that "wee dram" of spirits, but also suitable as sauce ladles. The hallmarks are very clear and detailed (the tree, fish and bell in the Glasgow town mark are all visible), an additional "star" journeymans mark is also present. Robert Gray and Sons of Glasgow produced "some of the finest British silver of the period" (Walter Brown, Finial, June 2006). Silver by Gray can be found with both Glasgow and Edinburgh marks, as between 1784 and 1819 the Glasgow assay office was closed.

Cast silver gilt sifter spoon, with pirate finial, and shell shaped bowl. This is a lovely spoon of good quality, the pirate finial has very good detail. George Fox was part of the famous Fox family of silversmiths, who supplied many of the leading retailers in their day. As is common with Fox silver, this spoon replicates an earlier style. The hallmarks are well struck, but slightly defaced by a scratch.

A boxed set of 6 silver enamel commemorative teaspoons, with enamel "Southern Rhodesia" with coat of arms, and cast bowls featuring "Rhodes Statue, Bulawayo". Cecil John Rhodes was a British empire builder, who obtained mineral rights in the territory later to bear his name in 1888. Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) was the name used for the British colony between 1901 and 1964. The spoons are in their original box, and were retailed by Birch & Gaydon, "Watchmakers to the Admiralty", of Fenchurch street, London. The hallmarks are clear on all spoons, although the makers mark (present but unidentified) is poorly struck and only partially visible.

A Canadian silver Fiddle pattern teaspoon, with an unusual gilded spoon bowl (gilded back and front of bowl), possibly for use as an egg spoon. The spoon has 2 interesting family crests, a raised fist holding a dagger and an envelope between 2 feathered wings, these are both very clear. The hallmarks are excellent, and include makers mark "SAVAGE.LYMAN & Co", pseudo Lion Rampant in circular punch, and pseudo duty mark in rectangular punch with canted corners. Joseph Savage and Theodore Lyman operated from Notre Dame Street, Montreal, between 1868 and 1879 when they were declared bankrupt. Their turnover suffered a major decline from $ 300000 to $ 90000 after the British Imperial forces were withdrawn from Montreal in 1870, so they must have catered to English clients. The firm was founded in 1818 by George Savage, who originally arrived in Canada as a soldier with Royal Welsh Fusiliers (Canadian silversmiths 1700-1900, John Langdon, pg 125, a book we highly recommend). Henry Birks, who founded the prestigious...

A delightful ladle shape sugar sifter, with an unusual pattern of stars, crosses and a half moon oval device. The pattern was cut by hand, and appears a little crude. The handle is initialled HI, and the hallmarks are clear with the exception of the makers mark, which is poorly struck, although still discernable.

Miniature toy trophy or goblet, with gilt interior. Woodward specialised in making trophies and cups for other retail firms. Clear hallmarks.

A Cape silver salt spoon, in the Fiddle pattern, with original gilded bowl, and original owners initials TB. The original gilding is a light lemon colour, worn and scratched from use, but still clearly visible and quite charming. The hallmarks are clear, and include makers mark PD for Peter Clarke Daniel, alongside pseudo hallmarks date letter B in indented punch and Georgian duty mark (Welz mark 42, page 148, Cape Silver). Peter Clarke Daniel was born in Dublin, he arrived in the Cape with the 1820 settlers as a child.

A Cape silver teaspoon, in the Fiddle pattern, by Johannes Combrink. The spoon has original owners initials HV engraved on the stem, the engraving is most attractive. The teaspoon has an unusual drop with incised curve. The spoon is marked with makers mark IC (Welz mark 30, Cape Silver, pg 147), this is very well struck and clear. Note faint scratch mark JER near hallmark, we presume a previous owner, visible in photo, not really visible normally unless you look close in good light.

An interesting antique silver spoon, used as a prize in a rifle shooting competition in Natal (now Kwazulu Natal), South Africa. The stem has the cast inscription "For Making Central Bulls Eye", the back of the bowl has an applied plaque, the emblem of the Natal Rifle Association. It contains a seated Boer soldier on a horse, with the motto "Semper Parati" (Always Prepared), and the date 1862, we assume the date the association was formed. The horse and rider are well modelled, as can be seen in the photos. Semper Parati is now the motto of the Boy Scout movement, perhaps Baden Powell encountered it during his time in South Africa during the Boer war. The spoon was made by the highly regarded Levi & Salaman, and has Birmingham hallmarks for 1905.

A delightful silver whistle in full working order, it emits a piercing and loud whistle (which certainly attracted attention when we tested it!). The whistle is engraved with scrolling foliage, and has a ring and link to allow it to be suspended from a chain or chatelaine. The hallmarks are very clear. This would make a lovely and functional pendant on a silver necklace. William John Hutchinson worked between 1900 and 1929.

Fiddle Pattern Konfyt fork, typical of those produced in the Cape. The fork is engraved "Irene". Konfyt forks were made and sold as individual items in the Cape (Welz, Cape Silver). The hallmarks are very clear, makers initials MLS between 2 Fleur de Lys (one is unclear). Smith was a VOC employee from Denmark who arrived in the Cape in 1757. He married 4 times, had 10 children and died in 1806.