A lovely pair of octagonal silver trencher salts, these are replicas of a highly desirable early Georgian style, circa 1720. The salts have gilded interiors, the gilding is in very good condition. The salts are really good quality, a very pleasing weight, and they both have clear hallmarks. High quality replicas of earlier styles were quite popular in the early part of the 20th century. These are almost an exact copy of the pair depicted in the "Price Guide to Antique Silver, Peter Waldron, pg 103, number 303. William Comyns & Sons is an important firm of manufacturing silversmiths, established in 1859 and still in existence today (John Culme, Directory of Gold and Silversmiths, pg 93). William died in 1916, his son Charles Comyns died in 1925 while attending a Christies auction (so dedicated until the end!). An advert of 1923 recorded "Reproductions from the Antique a speciality". William Comyns & Sons also made all the coronets for the Queen's coronation (V&A website), they also hold over 30 thousand silver...

A very interesting silver drum salt, designed by Alex Styles and retailed through Garrard, to commemorate the 650th anniversary of the Goldsmiths Company in 1977. The body is decorated with a fabulous interpretation of the Goldsmiths Company Arms, and the dates 1327-1977. The arms (granted in 1571) include quartered leopards head and covered cup with 2 buckles, and a stylized demi-virgin (thought to possibly be Queen Elizabeth I) holding the scales (balances) of Justice and a touchstone, both used for testing precious metals. The armorial is supported by 2 unicorns (representing purity), and the motto JUSTITIA VIRTUTUM REGINA, latin for "Justice is Queen of Virtues". The design has been photo-etched onto the silver, a modern technique which we think does justice to the armorial. The Goldsmiths company is one of the 12 great Livery companies of London, they were granted Royal Charter in 1327. The Leopards head (actually a lion but in 1327 the word for lion and leopard was the same) comes from the Royal standar...

A delightful and attractive silver miniature replica tankard, commemorating the 600th anniversary of the founding of the Merchant Taylors Company in 1327. The tankard is a replica of an original Irish tankard with Dublin hallmarks for 1680. The tankard has acanthus and laurel leaf embossing to the lower body, as well as an embossed cross and floral design on the base. The lid has a scrolled thumbpiece, and the flat stepped lid is decorated with the figure of a mans head (very unusual), with a circular band of decoration. The tankard also has a well engraved coat of arms of the Merchant Taylors Company, with motto "Concordia Parvae Res Crescunt" (In Harmony Small Things Grow), and "Merchant Taylors Co 1st Charter 1327" engraved underneath. The Merchant Taylors Company is one of the 12 great London livery companies. They are based in the Merchant Taylors Hall (Threadneedle Street & Cornhill), they have occupied this location since 1347. They are now a philanthropical social organisation. The tankard contains a ...

A delightful silver whistle in full working order, it emits a piercing and loud whistle (which certainly attracted attention when we tested it!). The whistle is engraved with scrolling foliage, and has a ring and link to allow it to be suspended from a chain or chatelaine. The hallmarks are very clear. This would make a lovely and functional pendant on a silver necklace. William John Hutchinson worked between 1900 and 1929.

A practical and interesting set of Arts & Crafts handmade sterling silver ice tongs, made by Leonore Doskow of New York. The tongs consist of a square silver rod that has been twisted in a circle to create a spring, with two 2 pronged grips, which are curved inwards, with sharp points, very suitable for picking up ice cubes (definitely the most practical ice tongs we have ever used). One arm is hallmarked "LEONORE DOSKOW HANDMADE STERLING", this is well struck and clear. Leonore Doskow (1911-2008) turned a hobby into a career during the Great Depression, a sugar bowl she made was exhibited in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1940. Her business grew to employ 75 staff during its peak, mostly producing silver novelties and silver containing monogrammes. She was featured in a Silver Magazine article in 1973.

A rare solid silver version of the Voortrekker Aandenking (memorial) 1838 - 1938 bowl, in 835 grade silver. The circular bowl with foot is well modeled, with ox wagons on trek, with Boer (farmer) on horse, cattle in the foreground and mountains in the background, framed by trees. The other image is of the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria, and in between are two lit candles in a candlestick, surrounded by chains, with Zulu shields above and ox horns below. One candle reads "VOORTREKKER AANDENKING", the other "1838 - 1938". The hallmarks are clear, and include makers mark V over moon for Zilverfabriek Voorschoten, and 835 indicating the grade of silver (835/1000). Zilverfabriek Voorschoten is a brand name of Koninklijke Van Kempen & Begeer, founded in 1764 and still in existence today, they moved from Utrecht to Voorschoten in 1858. The Voortrekker Aandenking bowls were made in a variety of materials, including porcelain, brass and silver plate, the solid silver variant is quite rare. Another example can be see...

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.

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...

An interesting silver caddy spoon made to commemorate the Royal Wedding of Prince Charles to Lady Diana in 1981. This is a lovely caddy spoon, quite heavy, excellent quality, and with a very pleasing design. The bowl is circular with stylised Prince of Wales feathers with Royal crown and motto "ICH DIEN". The handle is rectangular with diamond lozenge with the Spencer family Coat of Arms, 3 scallop shells between 2 devices, above Spencer family motto "Dieu Defend Le Droit", translated "God defend the right". The back of the handle is engraved "Des A. G. Styles, Garrard & Co Ltd, 42". It is also engraved with the name "George Ware" underneath the hallmarks, which are clear (we assume a previous owner). Alex Styles was one of Britain's leading silver designers of the 20th century, he spent most of his career as lead designer at Garrards, the Royal silversmiths, until he retired in 1987. The Times newspaper described him as "the finest designer of hand made silver in England" in 1966. He served with the RAF duri...

A lovely American Arts & Crafts sterling silver caddy spoon, made by respected silversmith Katherine Pratt. The spoon has an unusual but striking curved shovel shaped bowl with a flat terminated bowl edge, most caddy spoons have rounded bowls. The bowl edges are slightly raised, this is a well made spoon. The handle is long and elegant, and very practical for use. The spoon is stamped "STERLING" and "PRATT". These are in different fonts, the Pratt font is quite distinctive and typically Arts & Crafts. Katherine Pratt (1891-1978) has been described as "America's foremost 20th century woman silversmith" although information on her is sparse and her silver is rarely seen on the market today. She graduated from the Boston Museum School in 1914, and trained under both George Hunt and George Gebelein, both leading Arts and Crafts silversmiths. She worked at the Handicraft Shop, and was recognised by the Boston Society of Arts (Craftsman 1916, Master 1918, and the prestigious Medalist Craftsman in 1931, the only fe...

A very rare Arts & Crafts hand hammered silver sugar bowl, with twin handles, resting on a circular reeded foot. The bowl is by Philip Frederick Alexander, who has been described as "one of the greatest Arts & Crafts silversmiths" (www.antiquesilvercompany.com). The bowl has beautiful spot hammering throughout, leaving a planished appearance, with solid D shaped handles, it is also a pleasing weight. Alexander worked between 1900 and 1920, from Church Row, Hampstead, London. He also lived in Walberswick, Suffolk, both prior and after World War 1. He would have known Charles Rennie Mackintosh, who spent a year in Walberswick during the war. He had a Master of Arts degree from Oxford (unusual for a silversmith), he was also an author of geographical discovery books, including "The Discovery of America and The North West and North East Passages", still available on Amazon (www.styles-silver.co.uk, who also have a few pieces of his work, all unfortunately sold). The hallmarks are excellent, including makers mark...

A collection of 10 sterling silver and enamel souvenir spoons, all from Scottish towns. Eight of the spoons have enamel finials, one has additional enamel bowl, two are silver only. The spoons were made in Birmingham, London and Edinburgh, and two were imported from Europe. The dates range from 1900 to 1955. All 10 spoons have clear hallmarks. The 10 include: 1. Kilmarnock, Birmingham 1946, L Bros, Confide Virtute et Industria 2. Glasgow, Birmingham 1955, Barker Brothers 3. Edinburgh, London 1902, Saunders & Shepherd, Nisi Dominus Frustra, imported F mark 4. Glasgow, Birmingham 1926, Levi & Salaman, Let Glasgow Flourish, Cathedral in gilded bowl 5. Edinburgh, Birmingham 1900, Levi & Salaman, Nisi Dominus Frustra 6. Glasgow, Birmingham 1911, Joseph Cook & Sons, Exhibition 1911 7. Girvan, Birmingham 1902, William Henry Leather, Sigillum Burgi de Girvan 8. Dumfries, London circa 1900, imported F mark, Enamel bowl with High Street, Dumfries 9. Edinburgh, Birmingham 1926, Levi & Salaman, Nisi Dominus Fru...

A collection of 10 sterling silver and enamel souvenir spoons, all from a different British town. All 10 spoons were made in Birmingham, with dates ranging from 1900 to 1965. All 10 spoons have clear hallmarks. The 10 include: 1. Guildford, 1902, Levi & Salaman 2. Hastings, 1900, Levi & Salaman, Hastings Castle in bowl. 3. Morecambe, 1965, AJ Bailey 4. Blackpool, 1960, Turner & Simpson 5. Nottingham, 1955, James Fenton 6. Llangollen, 1909 Spurrier & Co 7. Carlisle, 1903, Levi & Salaman, Be Just and Fear Not 8. Canterbury, 1950, Deakin & Francis, Ave Mater Anglia 9. Isle of Wight, 1907, Spurrier & Co 10. Chester, 1951, Barker Brothers, Antiqui Colantantiquum Dierum

A cast silver commemorative wine label engraved "RUM", made to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth in 1953. The label is curved rectangular shape, with central peak topped with the Royal crown, and beautiful applied lion supporters on each side. The label is lovely quality, quite heavy, a pleasure to hold. These wine labels were distributed by the wine merchants Saccone & Speed, as can be seen in the photograph of the advert (courtesy of www.steppeshillfarmantiques.com). The hallmarks are very clear, and include the coronation mark, and makers mark LGD for Leslie Durbin. Leslie Durbin was one of the most admired silversmiths of the 20th century, his silver is in the Royal collection, he was also honoured with a 1 man exhibition at the Goldsmiths hall entitled "50 Years of Silversmithing" in 1982. He produced the silver components for the Stalingrad Sword during WW II, he also designed British coinage. He apprenticed with Omar Ramsden, his students included Benney, Mellor and Robert Welsh. Durbin is a...

A scale replica set of the Tichborne Celebrities, probably the most famous of all English spoon sets, originally made by William Cawdell in 1592 (Kent, London Silver Spoonmakers). The set was produced in 1977 by the Heritage Collection of Bristol, commemorating the Silver Jubilee, in a limited edition of 5000 (this set is no 1814). The sets sold for GBP 250 in 1977, with a royalty paid to the Hampshire County Museum, who bought the original set at Christies in 1975 for GBP 85000. The spoons are sterling silver with gilt finials, and each spoon is hallmarked with 5 marks - makers device, STG (sterling), antelope head (South Africa), date letter D and set number 1814. The spoons are good quality, with very detailed finials, and each is engraved with its name, as per the originals. The set comes in original box, complete with signed certificate with information on each "celebrity", and a booklet describing the set, its maker, and information on Sir Robert Tichborne. The set comprises of the "9 Worthies" of medie...

A fabulous quality gold and Diamond World War II Sweetheart brooch, for the Gordon Highlanders Regiment. The brooch has a textured 9 carat gold stags head with impressive antlers, green cabochon eyes (we assume emerald) and two red faceted stone nostrils (we assume ruby). The stags head is surrounded in a wreath of 18 leaves (white 9 carat gold), each leaf contains a diamond, and sits above a crown (which also contains 5 diamonds, so 23 diamonds in total, all are present). The regimental motto "BYDAND", translated as "Stand and Fight", in gold letters set in blue enamel sits in a gold scroll at the base. The hallmarks are clear, and include makers mark J.W.B, 9 and .375 indicating 9 carat gold, anchor town mark for Birmingham and date letter R for 1941. The pin is also hallmarked 9 .375 indicating it is also 9 carat gold. John William Barrett was a manufacturing jeweller who worked between 1903 and 1953, a number of other high quality sweetheart brooches are known by him, so we assume this was an area of spec...

An interesting 17th century style silver notched 2 pronged fork and matching spoon, the fork a replica of the earliest known English table fork. Both are faithful replicas of the puritan style, with 3 notches at the top of the flat stem. Both carry 2 family crests, the top a griffiths head and wings, the Montagu family crest, the second is a peacock in pride, the crest of John Manners, 8th Earl of Rutland of Haddon Hall, the owner of the original fork. This fork, made in 1632, is known as the Manners Fork, and is in the V&A museum in London. Frances Montagu was the wife of John Manners. The hallmarks are exceptionally well struck, they could not be better. They include makers mark "GOF Lo under star" for George Lowe & Son of Bridge Street, Chester, who date back to 1770 and who still trade today. They also include the Chester wheat sheaf town mark (struck in the spoon bowl as is usual for 17th century spoons), date letter and lion passant. The original box, marked "Lowe & Sons, Silversmiths, Bridge St Row, Ch...

An interesting antique silver trophy, the Douglas Trophy, made by the highly regarded firm of Mappin & Webb, presented for Light Weight Hill Climbing. The trophy has an applied medallion of an antique Douglas motorcycle with rider in flat cap, this medallion has a registration number (526485), so the design was protected. The trophy lid features a cast finial, a wheel with 2 feathered wings, very similar to the Bicycle playing cards emblem, this is attached with a silver nut (both finial and nut are hallmarked as well). The trophy has 2 attractive handles, and is engraved "Douglas Trophy, Presented by the Agents, Light Weight Hill Climbing CPT, won by J. van Reenen 25.7.14, F.A.R. Zurcher 5.4.19 and again 28.2.20". As can be seen, the race was interrupted by the Great War of 1914-1918. The trophy is clearly hallmarked (Mappin & Webb, Sheffield 1913), the lid, finial and nut are also hallmarked. Fritz Zurcher was an interesting character, he won the DJ Run in 1920 (the Durban to Johannesburg motorcycle race,...

A rare Liberty Cymric toothbrush, with silver handle set with two turquoise cabochons, and wooden (ebony) toothbrush set with bristles. The hallmarks are clear, including L&Co makers mark, but the CYMRIC mark is not present (as is usual on small items). This toothbrush matches the Liberty Cymric vanity set (S1360).

An interesting sterling silver replica of a Charles II trifid or lace back spoon, circa 1680. The stem is notched and decorated in traditional style, as is the back of the bowl, complete with rat-tail. The spoon is teaspoon sized, and very good quality, quite heavy to hold. The spoon is in it's original Mappin & Webb box, complete with Royal appointments to the Queen and Prince of Wales on the lid interior. The spoon also has it's original card, describing the origin of the spoon, it's decoration and an explanation of the hallmarks, making it an ideal Christening present.