A sterling silver bowl with a genuine embedded diamond, made to commemorate the centenary of the De Beers diamond company in 1988. The bowl (or dish) is circular, and is engraved in the centre with "DBCMLd" in Gothic script (the logo of De Beers Consolidated Mines Limited), the rim is engraved with 4 bands. The edge is engraved 1888 - 1988, with the brilliant round cut diamond between the dates (diameter of the diamond is 3.5 mm, it sparkles beautifully). The dish is clearly hallmarked with makers mark "EM*ESS" for Em-Ess silverware company, the largest South African silverware producer in the 1970's and 1980's, based in Johannesburg. It also has the Springbok head in U South African standard mark for sterling silver, 925 purity mark and date letter P for 1988. We are aware that this dish was also produced with London hallmarks, it looks identical in design, so we assume De Beers commissioned this dish both in London and South Africa, they were awarded to key customers, including site dealers in Antwerp.

A sterling silver stirrup cup with cast foxes head, on bell shaped cup. The fox has good detail and texture, the cup is a pleasing quality and weight. The cup is designed to stand both ways, so can stand upright on a tray when filled. This is a modern version, with clear hallmarks for Sheffield 1979, and is in excellent condition. Stirrup cups originated in the late 18th century, they are drinking vessels which were presented to riders on horseback prior to leaving or arriving home from a hunt, this happened whilst their feet remained in their stirrups. Most stirrup cups were crafted in shapes that were relevant to the hunt, such as a hound or fox head, as is represented here. Francis Howard was established in 1900 and still trades today from Sheffield.

An interesting set of 3 antique sterling silver serving implements, in the rare Venetian/Italian pattern. They consist of a fabulous quality stilton cheese scoop (81 grammes), and matching pickle fork and butter spreader, all beautifully preserved in original felt and silk lined case. The pattern is very intricate, and is repeated on both sides, at first glance it is similar to Elizabethan pattern, both are Renaissance and Baroque in style. Unlike Elizabethan this pattern has a circular cartouche, repeated on both sides, this has not been engraved. Venetian/Italian pattern was registered in 1868, most pieces are by Martin Hall&Co, this is a scarce pattern (Pickford, Silver Flatware, page 94). Pickford aslo describes a subtle difference between Venetian and Italian (this is difficult to see without a photo of both). The box reads "Mappin & Webb, Manufacturing Goldsmiths & Silversmiths, London, Sheffield & Johannesburg". The hallmarks are clear on all 3 items. We love this set, a delight to hold and use.

An interesting Royal Cape Golf Club silver commemorative medallion, celebrating it's 100 year anniversary in 1985. The obverse depicts 2 golfers with trees in the background, this is a faithful reproduction of the oldest known photograph showing golf being played in South Africa, which is owned by the Royal Cape Golf Club (see https://www.royalcapegolf.co.za/about). The medallion reads "LT. GEN SIR HENRY D'O TORRENS, FOUNDER OF THE CAPE GOLF CLUB, 14 NOV 1885, FIRST MONTHLY MEDAL, WATERLOO GREEN". The reverse has the logo of the Royal Cape Golf Club, with "100 CENTENARY 1885-1985". The medallion is hallmarked "SILVER", and has the number 115 stamped on the side. The medallion is perfectly preserved in it's original box, which reads "McCallum and Stevens Cape Town". The medallion is good quality and is also a good weight. Henry Torrens (1823-1889) was a British Army officer and Colonial Governor, he served in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and was awarded the French Legion of Honour in the Crimean war. He served i...

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". This design was done by the famous South African artist JH Pierneef (1886-1957), probably South Africa's greatest landscape artist. 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 v...

A Patrick Mavros silver sculpture of a Cape Buffalo on a blackwood base, miniature in size. The buffalo is realistically modelled, this is one of Africa's "Big Five". The base has a silver PM button trademark, the buffalo is also fully hallmarked with PM makers mark and the Zimbabwe sable in triangle standard mark. Patrick Mavros (www.patrickmavros.com) has built a luxury Africa themed silver sculpture business over the last 35 years, he is based in Harare, with outlets in London, Mauritius and Nairobi. His customers include the Royal Family, Prince William and Kate are collectors. Other customers include JK Rowling and King Carlos of Spain. This model is still in production, and can be seen on the Mavros website.

An early Georg Jensen silver spoon in the Continental pattern, also called Antik pattern, made in 1927, The spoon is a lovely size and shape, and is is hand hammered, both on the back and front of the spoon bowl and the front of the handle. This is technically a "gumbo" spoon, a large spoon for Louisiana Gumbo, but is more suitable as a small serving spoon. The hallmarks are very clear, including the GJ over 830S makers and standard mark used between 1915-1930, and assay masters mark for Christian Heise (1904-1932). The third mark is the Danish three towers mark above 27 for 1927. The pattern is well described on the Scandinavian design website Fjorn (www.fjorn.com), as "Designed in 1906 by Georg Jensen, the Continental cutlery pattern was the first major cutlery range to emerge from the fledgling silversmithy that was established two years earlier in 1904. In designing Continental, Georg Jensen was inspired by the forms of traditional and centuries-old Nordic tools and implements. The lightly hammered surfac...

A rare World War I 9 carat gold and enamel sweetheart brooch for the South African Heavy Artillery, who served with distinction at Delville Wood. The badge consists of a springbok head above 2 crossed artillery guns, with "South African Heavy Artillery" below in gold letters with blue enamel (note slight loss to enamel between H AF and small chip before H in heavy). The brooch is cast, the quality is good, 2 different tones of gold have been used (yellow with red gold accents). The clasp connector and catch are also gold, but the pin is not. The hallmarks are clear, Birmingham 1917 with 9 and .375 marks for 9 carat gold, along with makers mark E.A.P&Co (not much is known about this firm, they worked in 1916 and 1917). The South African Heavy Artillery Brigade was part of the volunteer South African Overseas Expeditionary Force, who served during World War I between 1916 and 1918, in East Africa, Egypt, Palestine and the Western Front (Somme, Ypres, Passchendaele and Cambrai, notably Delville Wood).

A Brittannia 958 standard silver miniature fish eagle, complete with fish in it's talons. The eagle is realistically modelled, with lovely texture and detail. It is hallmarked 958, indicating Brittania standard grade, so purer than sterling. It stands freely without a base. Stylistically it is quite similar to those produced by Patrick Mavros, so perhaps done by one of his apprentices, almost certainly from Zimbabwe or South Africa where fish eagles are located.

An interesting set of 6 Fancy back or Picture back sterling silver teaspoons, these are replicas or Georgian silver originals circa 1750 to 1770. Each spoon has a different die stamped bowl decoration, these 6 spoons are replicas of some of the rarest designs. They include: 1.Three masted Galleon at full sail, in wavy sea, thought to represent a British Naval engagement. 2. Milkmaid in period garb, with yoke and 2 pails. 3.Bird on a branch with leaves . 4. Shell with scrolling foliage and flower. 5. Birdcage with bird on top under "I LOVE LIBERTY", commemorating the release of John Wilkes from unjust imprisonment. 6. Basket of flowers, with a basket filled with flowers. All 6 pictures are well struck in perfect condition, with no wear. All 6 spoons are also clearly hallmarked with Sheffield marks for 1959, and makers mark CJV Ld for CJ Vander. C.J. Vander was established in 1886 by Cornelius Joshua VanderPump, the firm became "the last of England's preeminent silver firms, creating exceptional silver masterpi...

A sterling silver spoon made to celebrate the bicentennial (200 year anniversary) of the USA in 1976 by leading international silversmith Georg Jensen. The spoon has a large 200 engraved on the front, whilst the back is engraved "1776 United States of America 1976". The spoon itself is an unusual shape, circular spherical bowl with long flat handle, similar to a measuring spoon with flat top, we love this design, very different to a usual spoon shape. The hallmarks are clear, Georg Jensen in dotted oval above "Sterling Denmark".

A lovely 15 carat gold and enamel RAF (Royal Air Force) sweetheart brooch, with very good detail. This is very pleasing quality, it would have been an expensive item when first made. The brooch has RAF in red enamel under a red enamel crown, above a green enamel laurel wreath, all set in gold, with the feathered wings either side. In addition to the attachment pin, the brooch has a fine gold safety pin and chain, for added security, to prevent the brooch being lost. The back is clearly stamped "15", indicating 15 carat gold, which was a British Commonwealth standard until it was discontinued in 1932 (hence our dating the brooch between 1918 when the RAF was established and 1932).

A beautiful sterling silver and blue enamel dish, with a stylised viking ship complete with vikings, spears, shields and a fish. The dish is sterling silver with engraved rim, which reads "AIR VICE MARSHAL L.O. BROWN, C.B., C.B.E., D.S.C., A.F.C. DEC. 1943 - NOV. 1944, FROM NORWEGIAN PERSONNEL OF No. 132 (N) WING". The enamelling is fabulous quality, different tones of blue with different, intricate patterns, the pattern is also raised. The base is clearly hallmarked "DAVID-ANDERSEN NORWAY STERLING". Air Vice Marshal Leslie Brown was a South African who served with the Royal Air Force (RAF) in both World Wars, he was born in 1893 and died in 1978. He commanded 84 Group during the Allied advance across Noth West Europe. 132 Wing consisted of 2 Norwegian Squadrons (331 and 332) flying fighter spitfires, formed by exiled Norwegian pilots, they fought with distinction first with Fighter Command in the Battle of Britain and later with D-Day, the liberation of Holland and crossing the Rhine, as part of 84 Group und...

A set of 4 sterling silver fob medallions, with a bicycle and rider, awarded as cycling trophies. One medallion has a 9 carat gold cycling plaque, this was awarded as a first prize. 2 Medallions are identical, the third has same central cycling plaque with differnet outline, and the 4th has a different gold cyclist. All four medallions were awarded by FWCC (possibly Foster Wheeler Cycling Club) in 1937 to R Richardson, all as first or second prizes for Club 25, 30 or 50 (we assume different distances). All 4 medallions are in excellent condition, and all are clearly hallmarked for Chester 1934 and 1935 by maker TJS, Thomas James Skelton who worked between 1909 and 1961 in Birmingham, they specialised in fob medallions.

A Clan MacGregor (or Gregor) Scottish sterling silver clan badge, with pin to be worn as a brooch or kilt pin. The badge is the traditonal shape, with cast silver crowned lion erased, surrounded by belt with motto "'S RIOCHAIL MO DHREAM", translated "Royal is my Race". The badge is lovely quality and is in excellent condition. The badge is clearly hallmarked for Edinburgh 1950, with makers mark H&I for Hamilton & Inches, the leading Edinburgh silversmith from Princes Street, they worked between 1870 and 1977. The current MacGregor clan chief is Sir Malcolm Macgregor, 7th Baronet of Lanrick and Balquhidder. The clan dates back to the early 800's, they were amongst the first clans to play bagpipes, and their most famous member was the outlaw and folk hero Rob Roy MacGregor.

A Patrick Mavros silver sculpture of a lion on a black hardwood base, medium in size. The lion is realistically modelled, roaring with raised paw, standing on black hardwood base. The base has a silver PM button trademark, the lion is also fully hallmarked with PM makers mark and the Zimbabwe sable in triangle standard mark. Patrick Mavros (www.patrickmavros.com) has built a luxury Africa themed silver sculpture business over the last 35 years, he is based in Harare, with outlets in London, Mauritius and Nairobi. His customers include the Royal Family, Prince William and Kate are collectors. Other customers include JK Rowling and King Carlos of Spain. This model is an early Mavros model, and is no longer in production.

A fabulous modernist sterling silver bracelet, made by celebrated Danish silversmith Knut V. Andersen. The bracelet consists of 13 cast silver diamond shaped links, with a textured bark finish, the detail is lovely, both back and front. It is extremely well made, the quality is excellent, even to the screw fasterner which prevents the clasp from opening.. The hallmarks are clear, and include "Denmark S 925S KvA" for Knut Andersen, who worked in Copenhagen 1975-1989. Earlier in his career he worked for the famous firm of Anton Michelsen, he was the last designer employed by the firm. We love this bracelet.

An interesting silver spoon, made by the Leeds College of Art in 1953, to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. The spoon is teaspoon size, has a curvilinear handle and is struck with a large coronation mark as key decoration on the front of the spoon, this was an optional hallmark. The spoon is clearly hand made, the bowl and drop a little wonky, so perhaps made by an apprentice. The hallmarks are clear, including makers mark LCA for Leeds College of Art. Leeds College of Art, which still exists today, had a good reputation for silver in the 1950's and early 1960's (Source Designer British Silver, Andrew & Styles, page 372). Silver by Leeds College of Arts is scarce, occasional pieces assayed at Sheffield with the LCA sponsors mark appear on the secondary market (we have seen a few examples on the internet, spoons, beakers and a gravy boat). In addition to being a rare Leeds College of Art piece of silver, the use of the large optional coronation hallmark as decoration is also unusual. Du...

An interesting 17th century style silver notched 2 pronged fork, a replica of the earliest known English table fork. The fork has 3 notches at the top of the stem, a rare feature seen occasionally on puritan spoons. The hallmarks are beautiful, large and well struck, they form part of the decoration. The original, made in 1632, is known as the Manners Fork, and is in the V&A museum in London. The original belonged to the Rutland family of Haddon Hall, and has the crest of John Manners, 8th Earl of Rutland. This fork is a good gauge, very pleasing to use, we tested it on cold meats and olives! The hallmarks are excellent, and include makers mark FH for Francis Howard, the firm worked between 1900 and 1986. The fork comes in it's original box, with pickle fork explanatory card, and expalnation of the hallmarks. A real talking point for your dinner table. This fork is identical to S 1568 which we have already sold, and S1808.

A fabulous set of six antique sterling silver goblets, perfectly preserved in their original box. The goblets are very pleasing quality, over 30 grammes each, and are quite small, so we imagine used for sherry or liqueur. The shape is lovely, a traditional goblet shape, with spreading foot and baluster stem. The goblets are perfectly preserved in their original wooden box, with blue velvet and silk interior, also in remarkable condition, with hinges and clasp in full working order. All 6 goblets are clearly hallmarked for Birmingham 1911, and makers mark W&F.R, for Walter Hayes and Frank Rabone, who worked between 1911 and 1916, with the partnership dissolved in 1918, we assume sadly interrupted by World War 1.