A lovely Campari sterling silver wine label, with a very unusual but attractive design. The label has pierced scrolls and leaves on the side and below, and 5 semi-circular half domes on top. This is a good quality label, certainly made by a master craftsman. The label has 2 hallmarks, a stamped 925 indicating sterling grade silver, and a punched STG also indicating sterling silver. Unfortunately for such a lovely label it has no town or makers mark, we are guessing Italy as based on it being a Campari label, but it could also be American? We welcome suggestions on its origin, thanks. Note - we have now acquired 2 additional wine labels in the same design, for Whisky and Gin respectively. We now believe the labels to be South African in origin, and are researching the additional hallmarks.

A lovely set of 6 Rat-tail Hanoverian coffee spoons with gilded bowls, and matching sugar tongs. These spoons have wavy rat-tails, a very unusual feature we have not seen before. The arms of the tongs are modeled as matching spoons, complete with the wavy rat-tail. Hallmarks on all 7 items are clear. Harry Synyer and Charles Beddoes worked between 1897 and 1949, from Vyse Street, Birmingham.

A Charles I silver seal top communion spoon, which has holes in the bowl for straining communion wine. The seal top has the original initials "C over A=L", which is quite crudely engraved. The baluster seal top has traces of gilding, and is attached with a V-shaped joint, as is usual with London spoons. The hexagonal stem is tapered, joined to the bowl with a small rat tail. The fig shaped bowl is quite deep, and has been punched with holes in 3 concentric circles. The bowl is struck with the crowned leopard's head, the crown is clear, but the face is worn. The 3 hallmarks on the stem are clear, and include sterling lion, date letter B for 1639 and maker's mark D enclosing C for Daniel Cary. Cary was a prolific spoon maker. He worked between 1604 and 1639, he died in 1641. Cary is one of the "First Fifteen London spoon makers 1580 - 1697" As identified by Tim Kent in his book "London Silver Spoonmakers", which we highly recommend. Steven Venables, another notes spoon maker, was one of Cary's appren...

A pretty boxed silver butter knife and jam spoon, with lovely terminal design, which has been cut out by hand. Both pieces are good quality and in excellent condition, they do not appear to have been used. The hallmarks are clear on both. This would make a lovely wedding present.

An Arts and Crafts silver sugar bowl with fitted lid, the lid has a foot and can also be used as a dish. It is a copy of an early Georgian design, circa 1735 (Miller's Silver and Plate Buyers Guide, pg 27). This is a lovely bowl, hand hammered in typical arts and crafts fashion leaving a planished finish, it is also very good quality and a pleasing weight. This would make an ideal Christening present. The Chester hallmarks are clear, the lid is also hallmarked.

A rare and unusual Victorian silver sovereign case, which holds 5 gold sovereigns. The case is circular and is beautifully designed, it opens on a central swivel, into a semi-circle, with slots for 5 sovereigns. The case has a loop, for attachment to a watch chain (Albert), it can also be worn as a pendant. Both sides of the case are decorated with scrolling foliage, and a tulip like flower. This case is good quality, we have not seen this design before. The hallmarks are clear. Edward and Noble Haseler were established in 1883, they had London premises at 94 Hatton Gardens (Culme, Gold & Silversmiths, pg 220).

A cast silver reproduction of the Lady in Crinoline caddy spoon, originally made by John Figg in 1844. The spoon depicts a lady in a crinoline dress carrying a parasol, the bowl is a matt chased rocaille shell. Being cast, this is an extremely heavy caddy spoon at 42 grammes, it is superb quality. The original is a highly important and extremely rare caddy spoon, it is depicted in John Norie's Caddy spoon book (plate 10) and also in the book "Investing in Silver" by Eric Delieb, pg 31, where it is pictured and described as "the superb little lady in the crinoline of the chinoiserie revival period". A similar spoon was part of the John Norie collection of caddy spoons, sold as lot 99, part 1 (Woolley & Wallis, April 2004). The hallmarks are clear. Note - The Society of Caddy Spoon Collectors (http://www.caddyspoonsociety.org) has just published a very interesting article about this caddy spoon in it's October 2020 bulletin, entitled "Lady in a Crinoline". It states that in "1967 a rogue silversmith chanced his...

A set of four silver "Gourmet" wine labels, for Brandy, Sherry, Port and Whisky. The labels feature a well dressed gourmet sitting at a well stocked table with knife and fork in hand tucking into a whole fish, he is surrounded by various food and drink, including a chicken, boar's head, ribs, jelly, wine bottles and mugs, with 2 fruit baskets either side. The gourmet's feet protrude from beneath the table, the hallmarks are between his feet. The labels are crescent shaped with the original chains intact, and as can be seen from the photos are well modelled, quite humorous with lots of detail. The label is a copy of an antique Belgium slot wine label circa 1814-31, depicted in the book "Wine Labels 1730 - 2003", figure 1308, page 344, described as "overwhelmingly self-indulgent gourmandise". The labels include maker's mark MWD in a wine bottle punch for Michael Wyard Druitt, who specialises in high quality handmade wine and decanter labels (see www.decanter-labels.com). Michael Druitt is an active membe...

An interesting British Arts & Crafts medallion, which could be worn as a pendant. The pendant has the Manchester Coat of Arms, complete with sailing ship and globe signifying Manchester's world trade, with bees on the globe signifying the industrial revolution. The supporters include an antelope and lion, and the motto "Concilio et Labore", translated "By Wisdom and Effort". The medallion also has Arts and Crafts symbols, including hammer & anvil, paintboard and brush, and hammer & wheel. The back is engraved "Awarded to Mabel Maynard for Miniature Painting, Manchester April 1901". The hallmarks are clear, and the loop is also hallmarked.

A rare set of spring hinged Georgian silver sugar tongs, in perfect condition, which is quite unusual for these type of tongs. The tongs have a hinge with steel spring built into it, the steel is visible on the rear.The arms are cast, and have a bead and thread edge, the grips have an attractive pattern. The hinge bears the Innes family crest, of a lion holding a palm frond, under the motto "Ornatur Radix Fronde", translated "The root is adorned by the foliage". As is usual for Scottish crests, the motto is above (English crests the motto is below), the Innes family comes from the Moray area of Speyside (so perhaps these tongs should be used for adding ice to whisky rather than sugar to tea!). Both arms are hallmarked with makers mark IB and lion passant, which indicates they were made before 1784 when the duty mark was added. These type of tongs were made between 1765 and 1780 (Georgian Silver Sugar Tongs, Graham Hodges, pg 10, a book we highly recommend), and are rare in undamaged form. John Baker II worked...

An interesting Sampson Mordan antique silver bowl, with a Victorian silver half crown dated 1900 set into the bowl. The bowl is engraved "God Save The Queen, The Last Coinage of the Nineteenth Century". The bowl is good quality, the coin is very fine, protected by the rim on the base. The hallmarks are excellent, including Sampson Mordan makers mark. The bowl is also stamped "copyright" in small letters below the coin. Sampson Mordan are well known for their collectable novelty silver.

A Cape silver snuff box, with an intriguing later inscription with both Bedfordshire and Boer War connections. The snuff box is rectangular with a shell thumb piece, and has typically Cape wriggle work engraving around the sides, which is worn from use. The interior is gilded, and has a later engraved inscription "Frank Pym from Frank Shuttleworth Xmas 1911". The box has a very clear JML makers mark on the lid. The box is well made, has very pleasing snug closure, very suitable for use. Frank Shuttleworth (of Old Warden, Biggleswade) was High Sherriff of Bedfordshire in 1891, he was followed by Francis Pym (of Hassells Hall, Sandy) in 1903. Shuttleworth (Colonel) raised the Bedfordshire Imperial Yeomanry in 1901 for service in the Boer War, we assume he acquired this Cape Silver snuffbox during his service in South Africa, answering the question why a Cape silver snuffbox has a Bedfordshire inscription. The Bedfordshire Yeomanry also served later in both World Wars. The Shuttleworth name today is known due ...

A lovely and unusual set of 6 silver teaspoons, with an embossed stylised Fleur-de-Lis on the front, and picture back Fleur-de-Lis surrounded by a branch on the back of the bowl. They have a slight "Fiddle" at the base of the stem. The spoons are a good gauge, and a pleasure to use. Given they were made in 1918 at the end of WW1, perhaps they were intended to celebrate France returning to peace. John Yeomans Cowlishaw was highly regarded for his fruit and dessert knives, the firm existed from 1862 to 1950. Cowlishaw unfortunately committed suicide in 1895, the business was carried on by his son. The hallmarks are clear on all 6 spoons.

An interesting armorial silver spoon, with armorial of Robert Burns, who is widely regarded as the National Poet of Scotland, also "Scotland's Favourite Son", also voted "Greatest Scot of all Time" (Wikipedia). Burns night is celebrated on 25 January, with haggis on the menu, and the singing of "Auld Lang Syne". The armorial features a seeded holly bush, under shepherds pipe and crook, with a woodlark perched on a sprig of bay tree, and "Wood Notes Wild" from Milton's Allegro. The bottom of the shield has the motto "Better a wee bush than nae bield" (a small bush is better than no shelter at all), which Burns used to seal his letters.

A Swedish silver spoon, commemorating the Goteborg Jubilee Exhibition of 1923, celebrating 300 years since the city was founded. The spoon has the bust of the Swedish King Gustavus Adolphus The Great, who was King between 1611 and 1632, he founded Sweden as a great power, and was a great military commander. November 6 is still celebrated in Sweden as Gustavus Adolphus day. The spoon has a large, deep fig shaped bowl, the stem reads "1923 Goteborg", the finial has a circular bust of the King, surrounded by flowers and scrolls. The spoon has clear hallmarks, the Swedish 3 crown National mark, S sterling silver standard mark, date letter M8 for 1938, and Stockholm city mark (kings head), along with C.G. HALLBERG makers mark. We are not sure how to reconcile the 1923 date with it's 1938 production date, we can only assume it was still in demand. CG Hallberg was a prominent Swedish Goldsmith, jeweler to the Swedish court, and one of the top firms in Sweden in the early 20th century.

A very fine Edwardian silver replica of a Baluster Seal Top spoon, made by Crichton Brothers, who were the leading British dealers of their time, with 3 Royal appointments. The spoon is very good quality, and a pleasing size and weight, a pleasure to use. The seal top is engraved with initial H, this spoon was probably a Christening present. Lionel Alfred Crichton, 1890-1938, was known for it's fine quality replica silver, see our photo of their advertisement. Lionel Crichton also set auction records for silver purchases in 1914, he paid the record sum of 5600 pounds at Christies for a silver standing salt, dated 1508 (Henry VIII), from Lord Ashburnham's collection. This spoon could be a copy of the "massive and heavy baluster sealtop, London 1592", depicted in "English and Scottish Silver Spoons", Volume 1, pg 236, by Commander How. The hallmarks are clear, and include makers mark LAC.

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).

An interesting set of 4 Cape silver Fiddle pattern tableforks, by Lodewyk Beck. They have no initials, although 1 fork has the remnants of an initial just visible. It appears 1 fork was made at a different time, as the hallmarks are struck differently from the other 3. The hallmarks include makers mark LB with 4 pseudo English hallmarks, including lion, duty mark, castle town mark and date letter a. What is interesting about the hallmarks is that they are all individually struck, with not too much care, both the sterling lion and the date letter have been struck upside down on one, it appears the order and orientation of hallmarks was not important to Cape silversmiths. The 4th fork, has the same hallmarks but struck further apart. Lodewyk Willem Christiaan Beck worked between 1847 and 1867, from Shortmarket street and Greenmarket Square.

A fabulous lion mask head and paw feet cauldron salt cellar with near matching mustard pot, complete with blue glass liner. The salt has a gadrooned rim, and 3 cast lion mask head and feet, with very pleasing detail, and is gilded with a matt finish. The weight of both is extraordinary, these are very heavy and good quality items. The mustard pot has a hinge lid and scrolling handle. The salt was made by Hollard, Aldwinkle & Slater in 1917, the mustard pot is by the Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Company, 1920. On very close inspection you can see they do not quite match, the lions are cast in different moulds, with very slight differences in the detail - but both are reproductions of a very popular early Georgian style circa 1750. This style was also copied by Paul Storr. The hallmarks on both are very clear, the lid is also hallmarked. Hollard, Aldwinkle & Slater was an important firm who worked between 1838 and 1932, they acquired a number of leading firms including Adams (Chawner), Hennell and Higgins. The Gol...

A magnificent pair of Pierced Vine (also called Chased & Pierced Vine) pattern gilded dessert spoons, these are spectacular spoons. The pattern has interwoven vines, grapes and leaves, and a vacant cartouche on the back for initials or a family crest. The spoons are hand forged, a good weight and superb quality, as you would expect from Vander. The pattern was first produced by Francis Higgins for the Great Exhibition of 1851, and was intended for dessert. The pattern is described as "one of the most extraordinary silver flatware patterns in the world" by MP Levene, London silver dealers who still produce this pattern today. The hallmarks are clear on both spoons.