Plain but pleasing Nathaniel Mills snuffbox, with gilt interior and an attractive crest. The crest, which is slightly worn, has a scalloped cartouche containing a griffin, encased by scrolling palms.
A beautiful Victorian silver sifter ladle in the style of the Aesthetic Movement, made by the important firm of Silversmiths Edward Barnard & Sons. The quality and condition are outstanding, the bowl has a pattern of 2 different types of leaves, each individually pierced and engraved by hand, clearly by a master craftsman. The bowl, which is gilded on the interior, also has a wreath around the edge, with the leaves and wreath repeated on the handle, the wreath forming a cartouche which has not been engraved. The hallmarks for London 1881 are clear, as is makers mark WBJ in shaped shield for Walter & John Barnard, who ran the firm between 1877 and 1895. Edward Barnard & Sons are the oldest manufacturing silversmiths in the world, having been founded in 1680 by Anthony Nelme, they still operate today as a subsidiary of Padgett & Braham (source Directory of Gold & Silversmiths, John Culme, page 29). The Aesthetic Movement flourished in the period 1865 - 1885, after the International Exhibition in London led to a...
A set of 6 antique silver teaspoons, with finials modelled as British soldiers at the time of the Boer War, described as "Soldiers of the Queen" when originally produced. We believe these spoons were produced to raise funds for the war effort. The soldiers are well modelled, back and front, with good detail, including moustache, chest cross band and putties. The spoons are gilded, and have twisted stems. All 6 spoons are clearly hallmarked on the back of the bowls for Birmingham 1900, this includes a registration mark Rd 352723, which indicates Devenport protected their design. To us the soldiers look like they are wearing the red British uniform with white cross in use at the start of the Boer War, before the change to Khaki to provide better camoflage. British soldiers in red with a white cross on their chests made inviting targets to the Boer marksmen.
An interesting ornate antique silver belt buckle, with a cast "devils head" complete with horns, moustache, beard and toothy grin, which has been applied on a pierced background, complete with stylised lions heads and scrolling foliage. We imagine the buckle has some significance, perhaps to commemorate a popular opera or play at the time. Devils and demons were often portrayed on silver items in late Victorian times, some examples can be seen on the Acsas website (http://www.ascasonline.org/windowD20.html). Both parts of the buckle are hallmarked, the hallmarks are small but clear. The makers makr is HB cojoined. Hayes Brothers (William and Harry) worked from 73 Great Hampton Street, Birmingham, between 1889 and 1896, they specialised in buckles and small silver objects.
A lovely antique silver oar, a rowing prize for the Weymouth Regatta of 1870. Silver oars were popular prizes at regattas during early to mid Victorian times in England. The oar has good detail, including textured blade and locking pin. The oar is engraved "Weymouth Regatta, 1870, H.B. Winter, BOW", and has small but clear and well struck hallmarks. The original box has it's retailer label, Goldsmiths and Silversmiths, Lincoln Inn. Thomas Bartlett worked from St. John street in Clerkenwell, where he specialised in gold pens (Culme, Gold and Silversmiths). The Weymouth Regatta still exists today, although now it is a sailing event, held in Weymouth Bay and Portland harbour, the sailing venue for the 2012 Olympic games. Weymouth has a current rowing club, who row Cornish pilot gigs at sea - these craft were used to take pilots out to oncoming ships in the Atlantic approaches. We imagine this prize was awarded for traditional flat water rowing on a river, probably the river Wey.
An interesting Scottish silver prize medallion, quite large in size, presented by Mr Smeaton's Institution in St Andrews. The front is engraved "Mr Smeaton's Institution St. Andrews July 1856", the back is engraved "To the best Essayist James Annandale". The medallion is circular, with a reeded rim, with a cast silver scroll for attachment to a chain. The medallion only has a makers mark which is clearly struck, M&C in a shaped shield for Mackay & Chisholm of Edinburgh. David James Smeaton ran a large private boarding school for about 80 boys in Abbey Park, St. Andrews, which was also described as an "Academy for young gentlemen". He was born in Fyfe in 1834, and is buried in Edinburgh. He fathered 12 children with his wife Elizabeth, his son Donald Smeaton was elected Liberal M.P. for Stirlingshire in 1906.
A lovely set of 6 Royal commemorative silver spoons, made to celebrate 60 years on the throne for Queen Victoria. The spoons have twisted stems, with a crowned finial above VR for "Victoria Reigns", above silver ball. The bowls have an applied bust of the Queen, with engraved dates 1837 -1897, both the finials and spoon bowls are gilded. The quality is good, these would have been expensive spoons when new. The spoons are perfectly preserved in their original box, the retailer was George Edward & Sons of 92 Buchanan Street, Glasgow. All 6 spoons have clear hallmarks on the back of the bowls, including makers mark J.M.B. for John Millward Banks, which operated from 1863 to 1926, they specialised in souvenir spoons and other small items.
A delightful antique sterling silver hedgehog pillbox, made in Germany circa 1900 by Gebruder Kuhn of Schwabisch Gmund. The hedgehog is realistically modelled, his quills and textured tummy give a lovely feel to the box. This is a quality item, well modelled, and the hinge and clasp work extremely well, no chance of pills falling out. The tail acts as a thumbpiece, the lid is clearly hallmarked on the interior. Gebruder Kuhn was established in 1860, in 1900 they were awarded a silver medal at the Paris World Fair, in 1911 the received the Grand Prix at the World Expo in Turin, by 1918 they had 300 employees. The Unicorn hallmark is from the Schwabisch Gmund coat of arms.
A pair of magnificent Bacchanalian pattern fruit serving spoons. This is one of the rarest English silver flatware patterns, it was originally produced by Paul Storr. The spoons shows Bacchus, the Roman God of wine, riding a lion, whilst a topless Diana looks on, with another figure asleep at her feet. The back of the spoons are also beautifully decorated, with a masque over a theatre curtain, and tilted amphora of wine. Bunches of grapes and vine leaves complete the decoration. The spoons are extremely good quality, quite heavy to hold, sturdy enough to use as a serving spoon, and the hallmarks are clear on both spoons. Bacchanalian pattern is shown in "Silver Flatware" by Pickford (pg. 127), where an identical dessert service made by Wakely and Wheeler is depicted. The pattern was originally designed by Thomas Stothard, the famous painter and designer, for Rundell, Bridge & Rundell, the Royal silversmiths, in 1812, the first service was used by King George III. The other rare patterns in the same series in...
A set of 6 interesting Indian silver teaspoons, beautifully decorated, with heart shaped bowls. The spoons appear to be cast silver, and were clearly made by hand, as each handle is a slightly different length. The handles are tubular in shape, with rough cross hatched decoration (which provides good grip), the bowls have an intricate design, chased flowers around a central inverted tear shaped object (possibly a snake?), the backs of the bowls are plain. No hallmarks are present, as in usual for Indian silver of the period.
A pair of Victorian silver vine leaf wine labels, pierced for Rum and Gin. The labels are single leaf symmetrical, with a textured front, these are die stamped labels. The hallmarks are clear on both labels.
An extremely rare Victorian silver Palm pattern butter knife, with initial W. Pickford describes the rarity of Palm pattern in his book "Silver Flatware", pg 148, this is the only Palm pattern butter knife we have seen. The hallmarks are clear, but the makers mark is worn. Palm pattern appears in the Chawner & Co (George Adams) pattern books, who were the most important 19th century silver flatware makers. Please note we also have Palm pattern soup spoons (S1612), made by George Adams in 1876.
A set of 6 Victorian silver trefid teaspoons, with lovely bright cut engraving. The spoons have the traditional trefid shape, with 2 deep notches, and a wide flattened terminal. The spoons are engraved in Victorian style, with scrolls and and leaves, zig zags and hatching, the quality of the engraving is superb, these spoons will sparkle in candlelight. The spoons are in excellent condition, and appear to never have been used, a pity with such lovely spoons. The original box reads " Forsyth & Co, Jewellers, Pietermaritzburg, Natal", the box itself is excellent quality, silk and velvet interior. The hallmarks on a 6 spoons are excellent. Forsyth & Co still exists today, they date back to before 1897, as an advert from 1897 has been found (see photograph). Hilliard & Thomason were manufacturing silversmiths who worked from Spencer Street, Birmingham, between 1847 and 1902. They exhibited at the Great Exhibition on 1851.
A sterling silver dessert fork in the magnificent Bacchanalian pattern. This is one of the rarest English silver flatware patterns, it was originally produced by Paul Storr. The fork shows Bacchus, the Roman God of wine, riding a lion, whilst a topless Diana looks on, with another figure asleep at her feet. The back of the fork is also beautifully decorated, with a masque over a theatre curtain, and tilted amphora of wine. Bunches of grapes and vine leaves complete the decoration. The fork has original owners engraved initials AMD. The fork is extremely good quality, quite heavy to hold, and the hallmarks are clear. They include makers mark FH for Francis Higgins and London hallmarks for 1846. Bacchanalian pattern is shown in "Silver Flatware" by Pickford (pg. 127), where a dessert service made by Wakely and Wheeler is depicted. The pattern was originally designed by Thomas Stothard, the famous painter and designer, for Rundell, Bridge & Rundell, the Royal silversmiths, in 1812, the first service was used by ...
A rare Victorian silver Cyclists Touring Club certificate holder, in the form of a pendant, with an original enamel membership certificate for 1899. The holder is in the shape of a bicycle wheel, complete with spokes, and is decorated with the badge of the Cyclists Touring Club, three feathered wings surrounding a central cog which says "trademark". The initials CTC in gothic script complete the logo. This logo should be familiar to all, it is still used today on Bicycle playing cards, which have been produced since 1885. The holder, which is silver, is unmarked, the pendant loop however is hallmarked with the English sterling lion passant. The enamel badge has the same logo with the date 1899 on a green background. The rear, which reads "Cyclists' Touring Club Membership Certificate", is signed by secretary Ernest R Shipton. The original member's details are still visible, it reads "No 23689, W.O. Trotter, Oak House, Brandon". Oak House in Brandon, Suffolk still exists at 70 High Street, it is the home of De...
A pair of Fiddle pattern Cape silver teaspoons, with original engraved initials "RHL". The teaspoons are a pleasing weight, and are well made, good quality spoons, well preserved. The spoons have a Colonial feel, the Fiddle is more flattened than English examples. The engraving of the initials is lovely, they also has a Colonial feel. The hallmarks are excellent on both spoons. The include makers mark JJV in an unusual 6 sided punch (Welz mark 161), pseudo sterling lion, and pseudo duty mark (Queen Victoria's head with good detail, and hair bun). Jacobus Vos worked from 127 Long Street, unfortunately he died young, age 27, unmarried, which is a pity as he produced good quality silver.
A Cape silver Fiddle pattern dessert fork, with contemporary engraved initial M. The fork has excellent hallmarks, makers mark WM and the Cape Stub mark (see our articles section) consisting of 4 English pseudo hallmarks, Lion passant, date letter capital A, Georgian kings head duty mark and leopards head (town mark for London). The fork is very good quality and weight, and is suitable for use. The tines are very long, longer than usual, this fork has probably not been used. What is interesting about this Cape stub mark is that the punch is showing signs of wear, particularly the Leopards head. This lead to a mistake in Morrison (The Silversmiths and Goldsmiths of the Cape of Good Hope, 1936, pg 59), and later Heller (History of Cape Silver), where the hallmark is mistakenly drawn as an anchor (MM63 in Heller, pg 154).
A Cape silver tablespoon in the Old English pattern, with a very rare Cape silver hallmark. The spoon is good quality and weight, well preserved, and has a colonial V shaped drop. The hallmarks include makers mark WM, and a very rare Cape silver stub mark that is not depicted in Cape Silver by Welz (Welz shows the regular Cape stub mark, used by 5 silversmiths including Moore, with 4 pseudo English marks). This stub mark has the lion passant, a gothic capital A, smiling leopards head and Queen Victoria duty mark, with detailed hair. As can be seen, this is a very different stub from the one usually seen, struck with a different punch (Welz mark 100). This rare stub mark is depicted by Heller (History of Cape Silver) as MM62 (pg 154), the regular Cape stub mark is MM61 (see also our articles section for an article on the Cape stub). The hallmarks are very well struck, this is a perfect example. A third stub mark, including an anchor, is also depicted in Heller (MM63), this same mark is also present in Morrison...
A pair of Indian Colonial salt spoons, made by Hamilton & Co, the "Garrards of India". The spoons are in the Fiddle, Thread and Shell pattern with gilded bowls, and are double struck, and are pleasing quality, and in good condition. The hallmarks are clear on both spoons, makers mark H&Co, Elephant, date letter A and tally marks 2 semi circles, these marks were used 1860-1914 (source www.ascasonline.org, History and Marks of Hamilton & Co). Note the unusual & in the makers mark (quite fat), different makers marks were used by Hamilton over the years, this should assist more precise dating, further research is required. Note: We have matching sifter spoon and sauce ladles.
A Chinese Export silver dessertspoon in the Fiddle pattern, made by the respected maker Khecheong in Canton. The spoon has no engraving or any signs of removal of engraving. The hallmarks are clear, and include pseudo duty mark, pseudo crowned leopards head town mark, pseudo lion passant and makers mark KHC (slight wear to K). Khecheong was one of the most prolific Chinese Export silversmiths, he worked from Club Street, Honam Island, Canton between 1840 and 1870. He has been described as a "good silversmith" Forbes, Chinese Export Silver 1785-1885, page 255 - a book we highly recommend.
