A set of 6 silver Art Deco grapefruit spoons, made in Sheffield in 1939, just before the start of the war. The spoons are classic Art Deco, with flared terminals, with shaped 5 sided bowls, with a strong curved tip for digging into a grapefruit. The spoons are a good weight and quality, perfect for everyday use. The hallmarks on a 6 spoons are very clear, the spoons also have a registration mark, RD 835635, which protected the design, and are also stamped "Made in England".
A sterling silver caddy spoon, with the engraved crest of the Royal Mint of Pretoria. The spoon is good quality, a pleasing weight and the crest is very clear. The Royal Mint of Pretoria was opened in 1923 as a branch of the Royal Mint of London. It broke ties with London in 1941, becoming the South African Mint. The Royal Mint of Pretoria branch was one of 6 Royal Mint branches, the others in Canada (Ottawa), Australia (Sydney, Melbourne and Perth) and India (Bombay). The Pretoria Mint produced British gold sovereigns between 1923 and 1932, these carry the SA mint mark. The caddy spoon hallmarks are clear, being 925, silver and RMP makers mark. We assume the spoon was made in 1923 to commemorate the opening of the Mint. Note: - We now have another example of this Royal Mint Pretoria caddy spoon available, please enquire
A lovely silver and enamel fob, depicting a footballer in early 20th century dress. The fob would have been attached to a silver "Albert" or pocketwatch chain. The hallmarks are very clear.
A 9 carat gold and enamel RAF (Royal Air Force) sweetheart brooch, beautifully preserved in its original box. The pin and box are both very good quality, the pin has lovely detail. The pin is stamped ? CT gold, the number is obscured, we assume it is 9 carat. The gold in the RAF lettering has a red colour, which contrasts nicely against the yellow gold wings and red and green enamel. The retailer was "T&J Perry Ltd, Jewellers & Silversmiths, 124 Regent St W".
An amusing sterling silver wine label, with the traditional PORT engraving crossed out and replaced underneath with STARBOARD, a nautical reference to the left (port) and right (starboard) sides of a boat. The label is rectangular, with a heavy gadrooned border with 4 shell motif's, so a very traditional shape. The label is stamped, has it's original silver chain and clear hallmarks for Birmingham 1957. David Hollander & Son was established in 1908, and continued to produce silver until 1975. This name of Port being replaced by Starboard is unrecorded in the master list of wine label names in the book "Wine Labels 1730-2003".
A sterling silver and white enamel Guildhall School of Music & Drama medallion, perfectly preserved in it's original box. The medallion is good quality, a pleasing weight, with music scrolls, mask and City of London crest. The medallion reads "DIPLOMA L.G.S.M.", for Licentiate of the Guildhall of the School of Music. The back is engraved "Albert Edward Honey Teachers' Flute", surrounded by laurel wreath. Albert Honey was born in Devon in 1919, he was principal flute for the Band of Royal Dragoons during the war. He then joined the Scottish National Orchestra from 1951-1954 and BBC Review Orchestra 1954-1964. He then emigrated to South Africa to teach at Rhodes University in Grahamstown, he retired in 1984 after being awarded M.Mus and Ph.D. He palayed in the National Symphony Orchestra after retirement and died in 2001. The hallmarks are clear.
An antique silver whisky noggin, also called a Chota Peg, complete with antique silver whiskey wine label. The noggin is the traditional conical shape, with cut glass star base, glass handle and silver pouring collar and lid with thumb piece. The hallmarks are clear on both the rim and the lid. The noggin comes with a small kidney shaped wine label with original chain, engraved "Whiskey", also with clear London hallmarks for 1908 and Hukin & Heath makers mark, a respected firm. Whisky noggins were popular in Edwardian times, they contain a 1 gill (30 ml) measure, so a generous double tot, and were made to be taken to bed. They were also popular amongst British expats in India during the Raj period, where they were called "Chota Peg", or little drink, also "go to bed" drink. Joshua and John Maxfield, founded in 1855 in Sheffield, were celebrated at the Jewellers Exhibition of 1913 for "the extent and variety of novelties which they have placed on the market" Culme, Gold & Silversmiths pg 319. They had a showro...
A stylish set of six sterling silver coffee spoons, with an unusual but attractive shell design, we have not encountered this design before. The spoons are perfectly preserved in their original box, the box reads "James Dixon & Sons, Sheffield, Made in England", we assume the retailer. All 6 spoons are clearly hallmarked. Atkin Brothers was a well known firm founded by Henry Atkin in 1851, it survived over 100 years until it was acquired by C.J. Vander in 1958.
A Redhill & District Football League silver, gold and enamel fob medallion for the year 1925. The medallion has a central gold panel with 3 footballers and football, with goals in the background, marked with registration number 401749, so this design was protected. This is surrounded with a blue enamel ring with the writing, and decorative silver scrolls and suspension ring surrounding. The original suspension ring is also hallmarked, this is ideal for wear as a pendant. The hallmarks are very clear. The Redhill and District Football League still exists, is a regional English football league formed in 1897. It comprises teams from Surrey, Kent, Greater London and Sussex. It currently has four divisions, the highest of which, the Premier Division, is situated at the 14th level of the English football league system source Wikipedia). I am sure we can be confident that they no longer award such beautiful medallions!
An interesting Guild of Handicraft silver preserve spoon, hand made by the Harts of Chipping Campden. The spoon has a Celtic inspired finial with interlocking raised flowers on a matt background, which gives a nice contrast. The upper spoon shaft has been shaped with 4 notches on either side, which adds to the design, and also catches the light, similar to bright cutting. The fig shaped bowl is planished (hand hammered) with the individual hammer marks visible of the back of the bowl (the front of the bowl is smooth). The spoon also has a diamond shaped rat-tail, which is raised. The hallmarks are clear, including G of H makers mark.
Spot hammered 3 piece travelling shaving brush, the brush screws into the holder when in use. All 3 pieces are individually hallmarked.
A lovely set of replica lace back trefid coffee spoons, perfectly preserved on original box, they do not appear to have been used. They are decorated in traditional style, both on the front of the stems and back of the bowls. The rat-tail is ribbed, the floral scrolls in relief are elaborate, with the pattern on the front matching the lace back back of bowl. The spoons ends also have the traditional notched pattern. All 6 spoons also have clear hallmarks, with FH makers mark for Francis Howard Ltd, who worked between 1900 and 2012. They are in their original box marked "H Perovetz Ltd, 51 Chancery Lane, London WC 2", Perovetz were leading London silver dealers until 1995. The set is also accompanied with its original explanatory card, "Sterling silver Charles II Trifid Lace Back spoon c1680", with notes on the spoon history, description, and explanation of all the hallmarks.
Stunning pair of very good quality 2 pronged pickle forks of 800 purity, with a beautiful jugendstil design on both the back and the front of the forks, and horseshoe pattern above the prongs. The box is intact, but showing signs of its age. The hallmarks are very clear, depicting the German moon, crown, 800 purity and a double headed eagle, the makers mark for Bruckmann. Bruckmann were the largest silver producer in Germany, and were noted for their Jugendstil designs.
A set of 6 Art Deco sterling silver coffee spoons, well preserved in original half moon box. The spoons have horseshoe shape bowls, and classic Art Deco finials, the 4 tower shape. All 6 spoons have clear hallmarks. The box is also lovely, half oval fan shape. Both box and spoons are small and dainty, smaller than most spoon boxes.
A lovely set of Art Deco silver grapefruit spoons, with unusual and decorative pierced terminals. The spoons are good quality and a pleasing weight, a pleasure to use on a grapefruit. The piercing is robust, these spoons are very suitable for use. The hallmarks are clear on all 6 spoons. The spoons also have a registration mark, RD 787919, which indicates the design was registered and protected by the patent office. Cooper Brothers worked between 1900 and 1979.
An antique sterling silver thimble, size 10, with a panelled gold band over the sterling silver. The panelled bands alternate between larger concave panels and smaller convex panels, with a decorative floral band between each panel. The interior of the thimble is marked "10, STERLING, and anchor", and the gold panelling is marked with makers mark SBC, with a large S, and smaller B and C inside the S. This is the mark for Stern Brothers & Co of Philadelphia, who were well regarded makers of antique silver thimbles. Stern used the combination of the SBC makers mark and anchor between 1908 and 1912, hence we can accurately date this thimble. Prior to 1908 they only used the anchor, after 1912 they used a GBC makers mark, as the firm changed names to Goldsmith Stern. They folded in 1933, a victim of the great depression. We had previously incorrectly ascribed this mark to Simon Brothers, also thimble manufacturers of Philadelphia.
A typical Art Nouveau silver belt buckle, probably a nurses belt buckle. The buckle is an interesting shape, and has an Art Nouveau Female head, with flowing locks and flower in hair. The head is actually a separate piece of silver, also hallmarked, which provides depth to the buckle. The buckle is also engraved with different flowers and leaves.
A set of six sterling silver teaspoons, made in 1952 and carrying the coronation hallmark used to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, The spoons are an unusual pattern, with Fiddle pattern style shoulders, notched finial (2 corners cut away), and 4 engraved bands between notches, overall an attractive pattern. The hallmarks are clear on all 6 spoons.
An interesting Edwardian novelty silver menu holder featuring a happy fox, we love this item. It sits on a rectangular filled pedestal base, quite substantial so it could also be used as a desk paperweight, it can also hold a business card. The hallmarks are clear. This matches a pair featuring cartoon golfers, also by Deakin & Francis 1908, on the Steppes Hill website www.steppeshillfarmantiques.com, a site we highly recommend.
Unusual spring loaded silver patented bookmark with textured pattern, in full working order. Both arms are hallmarked and stamped "Made in England", in addition to full hallmarks on body. Patent number 257529. Suitable for hard cover books. We think this would have made an excellent gift for a returning serviceman. The rectangular piece slides onto the front cover of a hard cover book, the spring arm reserves the page. The bookmark stays in place when closed and when you are reading.
