Interesting double lidded snuffbox with trellis and diaper engraving and a crest, by well known silversmiths. Both the box and both lids are clearly hallmarked.

A fabulous pair of Garrard silver napkin rings, of exceptional quality and weight, amongst the heaviest we have encountered, at 85 grammes each (3 ounces each). They are plain, and are engraved with a family armorial and motto "FUGIT", which translates as "It passes". The armorial has 2 parts, the first 3 nags (or horses) heads, with 3 stars and crescent moon, the second a sunflower on barred background (indicating a marriage between 2 families). The napkin rings are perfectly preserved in original box, which reads "By Appointment to HM THE QUEEN, Goldsmiths & Crown Jewellers, Garrard & Co Ltd, 112 Regent Street W1". The hallmarks are very clear on both rings. The arms are those of the family of Borwick impaling Sola, described as "Argent three escarbuncles fesswise sable between three bears' heads erased of the last muzzled or a crescent for difference (Borwick), and Azure a sunflower proper (de Sola)". The armorial commemorates the marriage of The Honourable George Borwick (1922-1994) to Ester Ellerman (nee...

A fabulous and interesting Royal silver souvenir spoon, commemorating the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1897. The detail, quality and condition are exceptional, we love this spoon. The bowl depicts the coronation of Queen Victoria in Westminster Abbey in 1838, it is a faithful copy of the famous painting by Sir George Hayter, which the Queen herself commissioned and was delighted with, now in the Royal collection. Both the front and back of the handle are richly decorated, the front with a bust of the Queen below crown, above "Peace Commerce" above 2 ships (the naval ship HMS Thunderer), above "Electricity", represented by Greek mythology messengers Iris and Hermes next to a telegraph pole. Below "Rifle Volunteers" with soldiers being inspected by Britannia, above "Steam" above a detailed steam locomotive, above "Penny Postage" and a mailman. The rear has crossed Royal flags with rose, shamrock, leek and thistle, above the Order of the Star of India, with motto "Heavens Light Our Guide", above a Royal ...

A British Bulldog Club sterling silver trophy table fork, which is in good condition. The fork features a well modelled bulldog head, above legend "THE BRITISH BULLDOG CLUB". The fork is based on a single struck Kings pattern, but was specially commissioned by the club who wanted to present a more useful trophy than a medal. The club was established in 1892, and still operates today (although I doubt they still have such beautiful silver trophies!). The hallmarks are clear, this fork was made in Birmingham in 1936 by Fattorini & Sons, who specialized in medals and trophies. Note: We have another example of this Bulldog Club fork, S 11402.

A set of 4 Queens (also called Rosette) pattern egg spoons, 2 made by William Chawner in 1825 and the other 2 by George Adams in 1870 (of Chawner & Co.). The 4 spoons match perfectly, double struck with honeysuckle heel. All four spoons have the same engraved family crest, a leopard with whiskers above a a coronet, so belonged to the same family, but the crests were engraved at different times (so we assume the 1870 spoons were added to the earlier set). The spoons are fabulous quality, just over 30 grammes each, a pleasure to hold and use. The egg spoons have the traditional shovel shaped bowls with distinct shoulders, where they meet the stem, so quite different to teaspoons. The bowls are gilded, as is usual for egg spoons, to prevent corrosion from salt associated with egg. The hallmarks are clear on all 4 spoons. Queen's pattern is similar but heavier to Kings pattern, the shell at top front is convex (Pickford, Silver Flatware, page 124).

A sterling silver caddy spoon, with the engraved armorial of the South African Mint (Suid-Afrikaanse Munt). The spoon is substantial, a pleasing weight and good quality. The armorial has the coat of arms of the Union of South Africa (1910-1961), with the symbols of the 4 provinces (Hope with Anchor for the Cape, 2 wildebeests for Natal, orange tree for Orange Free State, and wagon for Transvaal), with motto "Ex Unitate Vires", translated Union is Strength. This is surrounded by 2 wreaths with South African Mint in both English and Afrikaans (the 2 official languages at the time), a building which we think could be the SA Mint building, and strangely a small armorial which appears to be the old Transvaal Republic coat of arms. (explanations welcome!). This spoon is identical in shape and form to the caddy spoon produced by the Pretoria Royal mint between 1923 and 1941, (see examples on our website, S1362 and S 1652), when the Mint became the South African Mint, with the armorial replaced to reflect the change ...

A Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) silver pendant by the famed Murrle Bennett & Co. The pendant is hammered silver, set with a turquoise cabochon, flanked by eight studs and four cut out scrolls. The pendant has the MB&Co makers mark, and 950 standard mark (incuse). Murrle Bennett was founded by Ernst Murrle and JB Bennett, they specialised in high quality but reasonably priced jewellery in the Art Nouveau (Jugendstil) style. They were London based, but production took place in Pforzheim, Germany. They had their own catalog and shop, but also sold through Liberty & Co.

A lovely Irish soup ladle in the Fiddle pattern, with an attractive, naive tulip crest. The handle is beautifully curved, so much that the top of the handle is at right angles to the bowl, which makes holding this ladle a pleasure. The bowl, which is quite large, is shaped with high edges which assists pouring the soup out of the ladle. The hallmarks are very clear. Sawyer worked from Fishamble Street from 1797 - 1812, when he died - meaning this ladle was one of his last works.

An interesting sterling silver wine taster, made to commemorate 1000 years of English Monarchy between 973 and 1973. The taster is circular, set with a cast replica coin featuring King Edgar the Peaceful, with inscription "EADGARRE" between two maltese crosses, and head and shoulders of the King. The taster also has a fabulous cast silver handle, rectangular in shape with circular cut away, the handle is textured with a sun ray pattern, both top, bottom and sides, this has a lovely feel in the hand. The taster also has a circular foot, and engraved crown above 1000 and the dates 973-1973. It is a good weight and size, it holds 175 millilitres, so is a good size. King Edgar the Peaceful was crowned at Bath in 973, it was the first British coronation ceremony, other British Kings pledged allegiance. He strove successfully to unite the English and Danes, he also recalled St Dunstan from exile and made him Archbishop of Canterbury. The hallmarks are clear, including makers mark GGM, thers is slight wear to the f...

A pair of Indian Colonial silver salt and pepper castors, cylindrical in shape standing on a raised circular foot, with removable dome shaped lids. Each castor has 3 gadrooned rims, and retain their original engraving "salt" and "pepper". The pepper castor has smaller holes in a different pattern (salt having larger holes for shaking), the pepper also has its original interior gilding. A similar pair is depicted on page 152 of "Indian Colonial Silver" by Wilkinson, who describes their shape and design as being unique to Indian Colonial silver (pg 165). The hallmarks include makers mark TB&Co, 2 pseudo marks (crowned lion passant and lion rampant holding a crown, pg 155 Wilkinson). The lion rampant mark is a reproduction of the crest of the HEIC (Honorable East India Company), which may have indicated official patronage (Wilkinson, pg 155). Twentyman & Beck, who worked between 1822 and 1826 from 4 Tank Square, Calcutta, were also the only Indian Colonial firm to use a crowned lion passant. The 2 castors also h...

A set of 6 sterling silver coffee spoons with matching sugar spoon in original box, with stylised Celtic dogs head finials. The spoons are plain but quite striking with the stylised finial. These spoons have been described as birds and snakes, we prefer the Celtic dog description - all assistance welcome as to the origin of these spoons. All seven spoons are clearly hallmarked, some for 1926 and some for 1927.

A set of 3 Cape silver tablespoons by Johannes Combrink, who worked in Cape Town between 1814 and 1853. These spoons are excellent quality and robust, well suited for use. The spoons resemble the Old English pattern, but are Continental in design, with a V shaped drop, strong lip on tip and flattening to the top half of the handles. Given the Continental style of these spoons, which is confined to early Cape flatware, we can assume they were made early in Combrink's career, probably between 1814 (when Combrink started producing silver) and 1820, when the English 1820 settlers arrived in the Cape, bringing with them English styles. Each spoon has a small identification nick on the back at the top of the handle (1-2 mm). The makers mark IC (Welz mark 32) is clearly struck on all 3 spoons.

An Irish Georgian silver punch ladle, quite small in size, identical in form to the larger punch ladles, we are not sure if it is intended for punch or another liquid (bowl very similar in size to Scottish toddy ladles, so perhaps an Irish Whiskey toddy ladle?). The bowl is circular, with a substantial pouring lip, and angled handle, the turned wooden handle is stained black. The wooden handle is securely fastened with silver pin, we believe this to be original, with no repairs. The interior of the bowl has 3 hallmarks, makers mark J.T in rectangular punch, partially struck (due to curved surface) harp crowned for Dublin, and clearly struck duty mark for William IV, the punch with 4 indents, this punch was only used in 1831 and 1832. This particular makers mark is interesting, J.T in rectangular punch, it is not recorded by Bennett in his book "Collecting Irish Silver (highly recommended), it is recorded by Jackson (page 655) preserved on a pewter plate, but listed as unknown. Amongst the most likely candidat...

A rare Cape silver dessert spoon in the Kings pattern, made by Lawrence Twentyman. The spoon is excellent quality, as is usual for Cape silver Kings pattern, and has a very pleasing weight. The Kings pattern is double struck (on both sides), and this spoon has not been engraved. The spoon has 5 clear hallmarks, makers mark LT and 4 pseudo hallmarks, all individually struck. They include pseudo lion passant, Georgian duty mark, date letter a and crowned leopards head town mark, this is mark 135 in the book Cape Silver by Stephan Welz. Cape silver Kings pattern was only made by 2 silversmiths in the Cape, Twentyman and Fredrik Waldek, who took over Twentymans' workshops when he left the Cape for India.

A Scottish Provincial Tablespoon in the Fiddle pattern, made by Charles Jamieson of Inverness. The spoon has original owners initials FML engraved in script. The spoon has 3 clear hallmarks, makers mark CJ, town mark INS for Inverness, and J mark struck sideways, this is mark IN16 in the book "Scottish Provincial Silversmiths & their Marks by Richard Turner, page 67. Please note the solder marks that denote an old repair to this spoon, only really visible under magnification.

An early Georgian Hanoverian pattern 3 prong silver dessert fork, made in 1724, when King George I was still on the throne. The fork is the traditional Hanoverian shape, and is bottom marked. The fork has 2 clearly engraved family crests on the back of the fork, so perhaps linked to a marriage, they include a bearded head with bandanna, and a stag with raised front leg. The hallmarks are squashed and partially visible, but the London crowned leopard head, lion passant and date letter I for 1724 are legible. The makers mark is not visible, you can only just see a small star in shaped shield, similar to that seen under the Paul Crespin mark, but not enough to confirm. A later hallmark T is clearly struck, we are not sure of the significance, all assistance welcome. Three pronged Hanoverian pattern forks first appeared around 1710, by 1750 they had been replaced by 4 tines.

An interesting sterling silver Puritan spoon made by the celebrated Arts & Crafts jewellery designer and silversmith Amy Sandheim. This is a replica of a Commonwealth period (1649-1660) Puritan spoon, when the United Kingdom was run as a Republic under Oliver Cromwell, after the execution of King Charles I in 1649. The spoon has a plain rectangular stem and ovoid bowl, without adornment, reflecting the Puritanical nature of the period. The hallmarks are clear for London 1933, the AS makers mark is only lightly struck, but still clearly visible, with some scratch marks over the punch. Amy Sandheim worked between 1923 and 1943 from Notting Hill Gate, she is primarily remembered for her Arts & Crafts jewellery, where she was regarded as a pioneer, alongside Sibyl Dunlop and Dorrie Nossiter, She also made silver spoons in the Arts & Crafts style (see Artists Spoons by Simon Moore, pages 391-396), but was clearly also interested in 17th century styles.

An interesting early Georgian Britannia silver rat tail Hanoverian tablespoon made by Thomas Salter of Exeter in 1718. The spoon has 5 bottom marked hallmarks, these are all worn (possibly originally lightly struck), but still with enough definition to read each hallmark. In addition to the rat tail the spoon has a central rib on the front of the stem, and original owners initials B over CJ engraved on the back, this engraving is very quaint, more likely done by the owner or local blacksmith rather than a professional engraver. The spoon is well made, and a pleasing weight, but has some wear from use. The hallmarks include makers mark Sa in Gothic script, see Jackson's Silver and Gold Marks page 292, and also Tim Kent's West Country Silver Spoons and their makers 1550-1750, page 130, M134, a book we highly recommend. The 2nd hallmark is Britannia, used between 1701 and 1720, to denote the higher grade 958/1000 silver. The third mark is lions head erased, followed by the castle town mark for Exeter, these mar...

A rare Cape silver table fork in the Fiddle and Shell pattern, examples are known to exist but these are regarded as rare. The fork is single struck (pattern only on the front), the shell is a lovely feature. A similar example is depicted the book "Further Researches in Cape Silver" by David Heller, page 68, plate 13, also made by Lawrence Twentyman. English versions of this pattern are also scarce, mostly made in Scotland and Newcastle, London versions are rare (Pickford, Silver Flatware, page 114). The hallmarks are clear, makers mark LT and 4 pseudo hallmarks (crowned leopard's head town mark, date letter a, duty mark and lion passant), this is mark 135 in Cape Silver by Welz. Note: We have 2 other examples of this fork, S 11436 and S 11437.

A pair of Jugendstil German silver serving spoons, 800 purity, made by Lazarus Posen of Frankfurt, Germany circa 1900. The spoons have an interesting diamond shaped bowl, the bowls are gilded on both sides, so can be used for serving salty dishes. The handles are single struck in typical Jugendstil (German Art Nouveau) style, with a central wreath surrounding engraved initials MJL. Both spoons are clearly hallmarked, makers mark script P in shaped outline, 800 standard mark and German crescent moon and crown hallmarks. Lazarus Posen was founded in Frankfurt in 1869, they specialised in Judaica, they became one of Germany's leading silversmiths, receiving a Royal warrant in 1903. They closed in 1938 due to Kristallnacht.