An interesting set of 6 Salisbury seal top silver coffee spoons, perfectly preserved in their original box. The spoons have gilded seal tops, flattened stems and fig shaped bowls, with the leopard's head town mark struck in the bowl. These are replicas of seal top spoons circa 1600. The spoons are good quality, we really like these spoons. The set is accompanied by an original pamphlet, depicting 7 seal top spoons, it reads: "The Salisbury Seal Top Spoons, actual copies of the seven spoons dug up in 1906, on Lord Pembroke's Estate, Netherhampton, reproduced as fruit, jam and teaspoons. The originals are now in the British Museum, and are valued at GBP 300-400, circa 1596-1632". Thomas Bradbury and Sons worked between 1736 and 1943, Frederick Bradbury was the author of "History of Old Sheffield Plate" (Culme, Gold and Silversmiths, page 57).

Mordan perfume bottle in fabulous condition, which has probably never left its original box. Attractive chased decoration of scrolling foliage. Initials TL. Original glass stopper in perfect condition. Gilt lid interior and very clear hallmarks.

A lovely pair of rat tail Hanoverian tablespoons, with an armorial engraved on the back of each spoon. The spoons are very pleasing quality and weight, and in excellent condition. They were made in 1766 by John Lampfert, who worked between 1748 and 1769, he was predominantly a spoonmaker (Grimwade, London Goldsmiths, pg 574). The spoons are "out of period", their style is 1710-1730, so were probably made to match an existing set. The hallmarks are bottom marked, and are in excellent condition.The arms are those of the family of Ridge impaling those of the family of Brooke with the husband dexter (right), Ridge and the wife sinister (left), Brooke. We have commissioned a heraldic report (which accompanies these spoons), it identifies George Ridge and Elizabeth Brooke of Portsmouth, who were married in 1735. The Ridge family estate was Kilmeston Manor, Hampshire. Their son Captain William Ridge was Aide-du Camp to Lord Halifax, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. He also served in America in the 60th Royal American Reg...

An interesting set of 6 Fancy back or Picture back sterling silver teaspoons, these are replicas or Georgian silver originals circa 1750 to 1770. Each spoon has a different die stamped bowl decoration, these 6 spoons are replicas of some of the rarest designs. They include: 1. Fleur de Lys, a stylized French lily used in heraldry. 2. Milkmaid in period garb, with yoke and 2 pails. 3. Galleon under full sail, with flags flying. 4. Basket of flowers. 5. Birdcage with bird on top under "I LOVE LIBERTY", commemorating the release of John Wilkes from unjust imprisonment. 6. Urn of flowers, with a Georgian garden urn filled with flowers. All 6 pictures are well struck in perfect condition, with no wear. All 6 spoons are also clearly hallmarked. Note - We have a similar set, also by Francis Howard but with 2 different pictures, see S 1710.

A lovely and practical pair of South African sterling silver ice tongs, made in 1997 by silversmith SM (as yet unidentified, all assistance welcome). The tongs have cast silver grips with 3 prongs, modelled as leaves rather than the more usual lion paw or chicken feet design, and are very practical for gripping ice cubes. The bow of the tongs is decorated with a cast silver bud, and the arms are quite long, longer than tongs used for sugar cubes. The quality is very pleasing, these ice tongs are a pleasure to use. The tongs have 4 hallmarks, all clearly visible, these include S925 sterling standard mark, springbok head for South Africa, in use since 1975, makers mark SM in shield and date letter X for 1997.

A Chinese Export silver dessert spoon in the Fiddle pattern, by a rare unidentified maker who used a letter E makers mark. The spoon has original owners engraved initial (I or Y) in Gothic script. The hallmarks are very clear, and include a very distinctive pseudo lion passant without tail, makers mark E with a very distinctive font, pseudo crowned leopard's head and pseudo duty mark. This mark is depicted in the book "Chinese Export Silver 1785-1885 by Forbes, page 244, figure 235, which are present on an egg set. The maker E worked in the 2nd quarter of the 19th century in Canton.

A pair of Cape silver table forks in the Fiddle pattern, without any engraving. The forks are in excellent condition, they have not seen much use at all. Both forks are clearly hallmarked with makers mark LT and 4 pseudo hallmarks (lion passant, duty mark, date letter a and crowned leopard's head town mark), this is mark 135 in the book Cape Silver by Stephan Welz.

A beautiful and thought provoking pair of German silver sugar tongs, with the words "Zum Andenken" cast into the bow (translated "In Memory Of"). The tongs have 2 distinct parts, the top half has a strip with the words Zum Andenken between highly decorated flowers, surrounded by scrolling filigree work, the detail and amount of work is astounding, the bottom half have pressed acanthus leaves for the arms, with the tong bowls in the shape of hands holding 3 flower buds. The tongs are delicate but are in remarkably good condition, we assume the have been treasured and well looked after. The tongs have 2 hallmarks, a clear 13 for 13 Loth silver (813 grade), this was used before 1886. The second mark is small and distinct but we cannot identify it, possibly an animal head?, we assume it is either a city mark or makers mark. These tongs are probably "Memento Mori", and would have been presented at a funeral. This style of highly decorative German silver is typical of the Biedermeier period in central Europe (1815-...

An interesting set of 6 Fancy back or Picture back sterling silver teaspoons, these are replicas or Georgian silver originals circa 1750 to 1770. Each spoon has a different die stamped bowl decoration, these 6 spoons are replicas of some of the rarest designs. They include: 1.Three masted Galleon at full sail, in wavy sea, thought to represent a British Naval engagement. 2. Milkmaid in period garb, with yoke and 2 pails. 3.Bird on a branch with leaves . 4. Shell with scrolling foliage and flower. 5. Birdcage with bird on top under "I LOVE LIBERTY", commemorating the release of John Wilkes from unjust imprisonment. 6. Basket of flowers, with a basket filled with flowers. All 6 pictures are well struck in perfect condition, with no wear. All 6 spoons are also clearly hallmarked with Sheffield marks for 1959, and makers mark CJV Ld for CJ Vander. C.J. Vander was established in 1886 by Cornelius Joshua VanderPump, the firm became "the last of England's preeminent silver firms, creating exceptional silver masterpi...

A Cape silver konfyt fork in the Fiddle pattern, with 3 tines. The fork has the original owners initials PJS, quite quaintly engraved in Colonial style.The fork has excellent hallmarks, they could not be better. They include makers mark MLS and the leaf device, with the veins clearly visible (Welz mark 117). Smith was a Dane who arrived in the Cape as a VOC employee in 1757 aged 35, he died in 1806. He led an interesting life, he married 4 times, and had 10 children.

A pair of Cape silver Fiddle pattern table forks, with traditional pseudo English hallmarks, which are clear on both forks. 5 hallmarks are present (Welz mark 4 in his Cape silver book, although struck in different order), they include makers mark LB, pseudo lion passant (quite fat with "camel hump"), pseudo Georgian duty mark, pseudo 3 turreted castle town mark (copy of Edinburgh town mark), and date letter a (which is struck upside down). Lodewyk Beck worked between 1847 and 1867 from Shortmarket Street and Greenmarket Square (still a vibrant market today), he was one of 6 Cape silversmiths who used pseudo English hallmark punches.

An interesting set of 6 Fancy back or Picture back sterling silver teaspoons, these are replicas or Georgian silver originals circa 1750 to 1770. Each spoon has a different die stamped bowl decoration, these 6 spoons are replicas of some of the rarest designs. They include: 1. Fleur de Lys, a stylised French lily used in heraldry. 2. Milkmaid in period garb, with yoke and 2 pails. 3. Fox and crop, with fox head above 2 crossed riding crops. 4. Stag, with antlers, running across grass. 5. Birdcage with bird on top under "I LOVE LIBERTY", commemorating the release of John Wilkes from unjust imprisonment. 6. Urn of flowers, with a Georgian garden urn filled with flowers. All 6 pictures are well struck in perfect condition, with no wear. All 6 spoons are also clearly hallmarked. The set comes with original leaflet entitled "Reproductions of Georgian Sterling Silver Teaspoons", with explanatory notes and explanation of hallmarks.

A rare Iona silver scarf ring, in the Celtic Arts and Crafts style. The ring is very good quality, and has a classic Ritchie Viking longship motif, with celtic knotwork side panels, and terminals of wolf like celtic beasts. The ship is copied off an 11th century stone carving in Iona's Abbey museum, and the beasts are similar to those found in the Book of Kells. The hallmarks are very clear, "AR IONA" incuse, along with makers mark ICA (Iona Celtic Arts) and Birmingham hallmarks for 1934. Ritchie registered the ICA makers mark in 1931 in Birmingham. Alex Ritchie's work was inspired by the ancient Celtic and Viking carvings on Iona. He is regarded as one of the most respected and sought after Scottish silver jewellers of the 20th century. (All information courtesy of Alexander Ritchie website, see link on our links page. A similar scarf ring is shown on the website.)

Beautiful, solid, engine turned box with vacant cartouche. Excellent hinge and very snug closure. This box is a very good weight and slightly larger than other snuffboxes. Attractive thumbpiece and gilt interior.

An antique Dutch silver vinaigrette (zilveren lodereindoosje) in the form of an armoire (kabinet). These have also been described as pomanders, scent boxes, and also incorrectly described as snuff boxes and peppermint boxes. The box is rectangular in shape, with an engraved armoire, complete with drawers, it also has a pierced rim on the lid. The back is decorated with an engraved flower, while the base, sides and lid have engraved wrigglework decoration. The lid is clearly hallmarked with maker mark IS under star (makers mark 10121 in the book "Netherlands Responsibility Marks since 1797") for Johannes Jacobus Smits, who worked in Schoonhoven between 1823 and 1824. The lid also has a very clear date letter O for 1823. The rim of the box also has makers mark and Minerva head office mark (duty mark). Loderein comes from the French "l'eau de reine" translated "water of the king", as only the wealthy could afford the perfumed cologne.

An interesting set of 4 silver ingots with hallmarks from 4 different assay offices, with an explanatory silver plaque, all in the original box. The box lid reads "The British Hallmark Assay Office Specimen Set" (this is faded and worn but still legible), the interior reads "Mayfair Coin Company London W.I." The plaque reads "The British hallmark is the acknowledged guarantee of quality accepted all over the world. The marks show makers initials, quality, assay office and date. Hallmarks were first used in 1300 A.D. The four British assay offices are: London, Birmingham, Sheffield, Edinburgh". The plaque is also clearly hallmarked for Birmingham 1970, along side set number 282. The four ingots have clear hallmarks (London 1970, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Sheffield 1969), with the name of each assay office underneath the hallmarks. The ingots are about 11 grams each, the plaque is 29 grams. Turner and Simpson worked between 1912 and 1979 in the heart of the Birmingham Jewellery Quarter, they were a large firm b...

Elegant, plain, oval shaped boat shaped salts with beaded rim, on an oval pedestal. Interiors are gilt. Very clear hallmarks. These are good quality salts by a well regarded maker.

A Chinese Export silver table spoon in the Fiddle pattern, with engraved initials WRB in Gothic script. The spoon is good quality, easily comparable to an English Georgian example. The hallmarks are very good, and include pseudo duty mark, pseudo date letter P in incuse rectangle with cut corners, pseudo crowned leopards head (London town mark pre 1821), pseudo lion passant and makers mark WE WE WC. This is an imitation of the makers mark for William Eley, William Fearn and William Chawner. The Chinese Export silver collectors guide (4th edition, pg. 763-767) says this maker remains unidentified, but was responsible "for an astounding production of silver items, almost all in the European neo-classical style. The work of WE WE WC is par excellence, it can rival the best of English, European and American silversmiths of the Georgian era. There is no such thing as a poor piece of WE WE WC silver. To have the wherewithal to create silver that rivaled the finest European and American silversmiths of the Georgia...

A Cape silver butter knife in the Fiddle pattern, with scimitar shaped blade, and reeded border across the top of the blade. The handle has original owners engraved initials in a fancy script, possibly JCLDLV. The knife has clear Cape silver hallmarks, makers mark W.M for William Moore, and Cape silver stub mark with 4 pseudo hallmarks, lion passant, date letter A, duty mark and leopard's head town mark - see our Cape Stub article in our articles section.

A rare Cape silver tablespoon by unknown maker M.I.V., with a good makers mark. The spoon is Fiddle pattern, in good condition but with wear to the tip from use, and no engraving. The makers mark M.I.V. is fairly well struck but slightly worn, note the specific placing of the dots (first 2 higher than last). This is makers mark 178 in Cape Silver by Welz (page 158), where the specific placing of the dots is clearly illustrated. This mark is also recorded by Heller in Further Researches in Cape Silver Vol. 11, mark N.M.M 56, page 126, also with the unusually placed dots clearly illustrated. Note - We have a second example of this spoon, with a slightly clearer makers mark, see S 11464.