Beautiful 17th century memorial (memento mori) matching spoon and fork set in outstanding condition, we feel they deserve to be in a museum. Both have cast triangular handles with an unusual finial, which appears to be a naked woman with a serpents head. The fork has 3 prongs, and the spoon has a crude short rattail. Both are engraved " SARA LEWES Obyt 7 Juny 1672". This set is illustrated and described on page 90-91 of the book "Cape Silver" by Stephan Welz, 1976. Welz describes them as possibly Cape, but we feel they are more likely to be Dutch. A very similar spoon is depicted on page 142 of "Dutch Silver" by M.H. Guns, the spoon has an almost identical bowl and shaft. No hallmarks are present. Note: - The curator of the Silver Dept, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, has now described this set as Auricular form, typical of Netherlands in the second half of the 17 th century. His opinion is that it is probably colonial, as known Dutch examples have hallmarks. Note 1 - This set has now been featured in an excellent a...
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.
Typical Cape konfyt fork in the Fiddle pattern, with an unknown makers mark, not recorded by Morrison, Heller or Welz. The mark is clear, JB between an unknown device, possibly a bird?
Asparagus server with plain handle and blades with pierced floral design, one blade has a lip. Hallmarks are clear, the spring is also marked with a lion passant. Wellby was reknowned for its fine copies of earlier designs, and supplied many leading retailers, including Barnard & Sons. They were located in Garrick St, Covent Garden from 1866 - 1965.
A rare Cape Silver twisted stem konfyt (preserve) fork, with spearhead handle and typical Cape floral engraving. This is similar to the pair (item S 1188), but the engraved flower lacks foliage and the only hallmark present is the makers mark, which is very clear.
A rare matching pair of twisted stem konfyt (preserve) fork and spoon, the fork having 3 prongs. They have spearhead handles, with typical Cape floral engraving, and very clear hallmarks. Similar forks and spoons are illustrated in Heller's History of Cape Silver (Vol 1, pg 148) and Welz's Cape Silver (pg 41). Byleveld worked from 53 Loop Street and 31 Waterkant Street from 1814 - 1827, when he died age 35.
Plain Cape butterknife with scimitar blade, and clear Pseudo English hallmarks. The makers mark is not present, but these particular Pseudo marks were only used by Twentyman (mark 134 in Welz, Cape Silver).
A very typical Cape snuff box, relatively crude in comparison to its English counterparts. Rectangular, rounded corners, bright cut wrigglework enclosing initials ECP, gadrooned thumbpiece. Interior has gilt remnants. Very clear makers mark.
Early pair of bright cut English provincial sugar tongs with clear makers and duty mark, however date and town mark are not present. Quite heavy and solid, have a nice feel. Initials TMM on bow.
A rare Cape twisted stem teaspoon, with spearhead handle and typical Cape floral engraving, and clear hallmarks. It is very similar to those made by Jan Byleveld circa 1820, so we can only assume it was made by Vos to match an earlier one made by Byleveld. Vos worked from 127 Long Street for 8 years, before dying at the young age of 27. He was one of the last working Cape silversmiths.
Regimental spoon with Feather edge pattern and gilt bowl by George Adams, the highly regarded Victorian spoonmaker. The spoon has an engraved Royal Crown finial with mounted cross, containing 2 Fleur de Lys. The crown is above an 8 pointed star, containing a crest (hunting horn below ICRV) and the motto "Salus Populi Suprema Lex", which translates as "The health of the people is the supreme law". ICRV stands for Inns of Court Rifle Volunteers, which was a regiment supplied by members of the legal profession belonging to the 4 Inns of London (Lincoln's, Gray's, Inner Temple, Middle Temple). The regiment, which was active in the 18th century, was reformed in 1860 as the 23 Middlesex (Inns of Court) Rifle Volunteer Corps at Lincoln's Inn. The crest sits above an engraved chalice. The spoon is an unusual size, being larger than a teaspoon but smaller than a dessert spoon. The hallmarks are very clear, and in addition to the usual marks also include an additional mark C, possibly a journeyman's mark.
A typical early Georgian two handled punch strainer, which was used for straining orange and lemon pips in the preparation of punch, which was a very popular drink in early 18th century Britian (before wine became popular). The bowl is pierced with 81 crosses arranged in a square, surrounded by pierced foliate decoration. The rim is reeded, and the handles are typical of the period. The strainer has an attractive crest of a clenched fist holding 3 three leaf clovers.The bowl interior is hallmarked with the makers mark struck 4 times, 3 of which are partially obscured by the pierced crosses, and one of which is fully intact and very clear.
Small Liberty cymric bowl set with turquoises, probably designed by Archibald Knox. Knox was renowned for his use of semi precious stones with silver.
Swedish Art Nouveau bowl with superb bearded iris design repeated on 4 sides of the bowl, by a well known Swedish maker. The lip of the bowl is wavy, in keeping with the style. Hallmarks are clear, being CG HALLBERG, triple crown Swedish national mark, St Erik's head for Stockholm, and Y6 datestamp for 1901. (Note: please forgive our previous incorrect attribution of this bowl to Copenhagen).
Delightful grape scissors with a fox amongst grapes and vines, definitely the nicest grape scissors we have ever seen. The handles are cast, with the design repeated on both sides. Both arms are clearly hallmarked. The shears are all silver, with no steel inserts. These scissors are still in their original box. James Edward Hutton joined his father's firm (William Hutton & Sons) in 1880. The firm supplied many leading retailers, including the Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Co, Mappin and Webb, and Neill Ltd of Ireland.
Art Deco octagonal sweet dish with Ivory handles, with very clear hallmarks. This dish could also be used for teabags, and would fit very nicely with the Deco tea service (item S179).
Cape Konfyt (preserve) fork with 3 prongs, with clear English Pseudo hallmarks and makers initials. Silver Konfyt forks are unique to the Cape.
A Fiddle pattern Cape Silver Tablefork by a well regarded Cape Silversmith, with engraved initials AW. The hallmarks are clear, being the makers mark struck twice. Lotter worked as a silversmith from 1810 - 1835, and was regarded by Heller as one of the finest of all Cape silversmiths.
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.
Typically late Victorian sugar sifter with ornate cast handle depicting flowers and foliage, and gilded bowl. Hallmarks very clear.