A rare and interesting Dutch silver matchbox holder (or cover), a memento of the destruction of the Ypres Cloth Hall (Lakenhal) during the Great War (World War I), imported and retailed by Harrod's of London. The box is embossed with a detailed image of the Great Cloth Hall in Ypres, before it's destruction during the war. The box reads "YPRES LES HALLES 1914". The gauge of silver is quite thin, and the box has been well used and damaged, 3 of the connecting arms have been repaired. The box is Dutch, and has clear Dutch hallmarks G for 1916, and makers mark VS for Vos & Co of Haarlem, Hertogenbosch. The box also has clear London import marks for 1916, and importers mark RB for Richard Burbridge, who was Managing Director of Harrods from 1911 to 1917. The Cloth Hall was first built in 1304, site of the Les Halles Market, and centre to the town of Ypres (Ieper). It was the site of many major battles during the War, first sustaining damage in 1914 but being completely destroyed by 1918. It was rebuilt between 19...
An Art Deco Sterling silver trophy, beautifully engraved with the crest of the Transvaal Scottish Regiment, and unusually for Regimental silver, in excellent condition. The trophy stands on its original wooden base, with circular plaque with makers mark Mappin & Webb. The trophy is small but beautifully proportioned, with Art Deco handles. The engraving is also very crisp and clear, the hallmarks are also clearly visible. The Transvaal Scottish Regiment was established in 1902 at the end of the Anglo Boer war by John Murray, 7th Duke of Atholl, original members were Scottish volunteers. They served with distinction in both World Wars, including El Alamein. They still exist today, but in 2019 were renamed the Solomon Mahlangu Regiment, to reflect South Africa's freedom struggle. The regiment still wears Murray of Atholl Regimental tartan.
An interesting Indian Colonial silver menu holder, awarded as a military trophy by the Viceroy of India. The trophy reads "Viceroy's Shield 1926". The holder is in the form of a shield, with a mounted soldier in the centre, surrounded by a highly ornate design of foliage, flowers, bamboo and scrolls. The shield has an attached clip at the back, to hold a menu or nametag at a dinner table, and it stands on a secure rectangular silver base with rounded front. It is engraved on the rear with the recipients details, "B" Right L/Cpl. A.H. Greatrex". The shield is hallmarked "JB&Co, Silver". the mark is legible but not clearly struck. We believe this to be the mark of J. Boseck & Company, which was established in Calcutta (Kolkata) in 1922, and still exists today. J. Boseck & Company are known as manufacturers and retailers of high end gold and silver products in India, in fact they supplied the watch presented to Sir Edmund Hilary after he successfully climbed Mt Everest in 1953. They started as an Anglo Indian fi...
A Royal Navy Gold Officers Sweetheart brooch, with gold pin and clasp in full working order. The cast badge has the Royal Navy fouled anchor under Crown, surrounded by laurel wreath, the badge has good detail. No hallmarks are present, but we are certain the pin is solid gold (we assume 9 carat).
A Boer War silver Gentleman in Khaki (originally Kharki) sugar tongs, made in 1899 to support fundraising for the 2nd Anglo Boer War. The tongs have the cast image on both arms, the "Gentleman in Khaki beneath crown, with "JUSTITIA" above and "Souvenir" below. The tongs are not engraved. The hallmarks for London 1899 are clear, with makers mark GJ over DF for George Jackson and David Fullerton of Josiah Williams & Co of Bristol, one of the leading flatware manufacturers of the period. The Gentleman in Khaki, wounded but defiant, stands stalwart against the foe, with his head bandaged, this image by Richard Caton Woodville became associated with Kipling's Absent Minded Beggar poem, written for the Daily Mail to raise funds for the war fund (described as unprecedently successful, raising over GBP 250000).
An interesting sterling silver trophy medallion, shaped in the shape of a Zulu shield, presented annually for a shooting competition between the towns of Pietermaritzburg and Durban of Kwazulu Natal, South Africa. the medallion has 2 crossed rifles behind a smaller Zulu shield, surrounded by palm fronds with a decorative border, above latin motto and town name scrolls. The shield reads "Inter-Town Shooting presented 1892 for Annual Competition, Mayor of Maritzburg R. Mason Esq, Mayor of Durban B.W. Greenacre Esq", the scrolls have town names "Maritzburg Durban" either side, and the motto reads "Palman Qiu Meruit Ferat", translated "let whoever earns the palm bear it". The medallion has suspension rings so it can be worn as a pendant. The medallion is clearly hallmarked with South African sterling silver hallmarks, STG, SABS standard mark, date letter Gothic M for 1960, and makers mark of Dick King riding a horse for Norman Watson of Durban, South Africa. Watson worked in the 1960's and 1970's. We assume this ...
Two sterling silver napkin rings, both shooting trophies for the Natal Rifle Association. The first reads "The Emma Thresh Trophy, 1914, 2nd Prize, won by" surrounding the engraved badge of the NRA, reading "Natal Rifle Association, Semper Paratus, 1868", around a mounted rifleman. We assume the award of this trophy was cancelled due the the start of World War I in 1914. The second reads "Murray-Smith Memorial, 1926, 1st Team", alongside an applied cast shield of the Natal Rifle Association, as described above. The hallmarks are clear on both napkin rings, the first has an additional hallmark "6" in a quatrefoil punch, all suggestions welcome as to the meaning of this additional punch. The Emma Thresh Trophy itself belongs to the Natal Carbineers, South Africa's senior regiment. The trophy itself is 16 kilograms of silver, and was donated in 1903 by Emma Thresh, as the shooting trophy for Colonial Forces. Lieutenant-Colonel William Murray-Smith of the Natal Mounted Rifles saw distinguished service in bothe th...
A lovely 9 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 gold under a red enamel crown, above a green enamel laurel wreath, all set in gold, with the feathered yellow gold wings either side. The contrast between the red gold RAF and yellow gold wings is lovely, set off by the red and green enamel. The back is clearly hallmarked "9 CARAT", indicating 9 carat gold. The badge and both clasp connectors are 9 carat gold, the pin itself is a whiter colour so may not be gold.
A magnificent Hanau silver serving spoon, commemorating the 100 year anniversary of Frederick the Great (Frederick II of Prussia), whose nickname was "Der Alte Fritz" (Old Fritz). The handle of the spoon is a very detailed full length cast figure, with detail on both the back and front. Frederick is standing on a plinth with the dates "1740-1786", the dates he reigned, on top of the Imperial Prussian Eagle and Crown. The spoon bowl (also cast) is heart shaped, with decorative flowers and foliage. The spoon is excellent quality, suitable for display or use. Frederick, also Prince Elector of the Holy Roman Empire, modernised the Prussian army and won military acclaim, so much so that even Napoleon regarded him as one of the greatest tactical geniuses of his time. J.D. Schleissner & Sohne were Hanau's "pre-eminant producer of antique style silverware in the latter 19th century (www.925-1000.com), they exhibited at the 1893 Chicago and 1904 St Louis international expositions. The hallmarks are clear, and inclu...
A R.A.F. (Royal Air Force) Sterling Silver Napkin Ring, with applied silver RAF wings, and engraved C.E.N.G. The napkin ring is 3/4 circular but has a flat base, so it can be placed on a table without rolling. The ring is clearly hallmarked for London 1936, made by SJ Rose & Son, the ring is also engraved with retailers mark "Gieves Ltd London". Gieves (now Gieves & Hawkes) is a prestigious Savile Row Tailor, established in 1771, they hold numerous Royal Warrants, including the Queen, Duke of Edinburgh and Prince of Wales. They have long served the British Army, Royal Navy and the Royal family, clients include Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington, Churchill and Charlie Chaplin. More recent clients include David Beckham, Bill Clinton and the Braun Formula 1 team (source wikipedia). Note - we have not been able to establish what C.E.N.G. stands for, all assistance welcome. It could possibly refer to Chartered Engineer.
A very interesting Norwegian silver Liberation spoon, made to commemorate the liberation of Norway from German occupation at the end of the Second World War. The spoon has a stylised well built male in Art Deco style with arms aloft holding a circular shield, with the Norwegian crown on a radiating 4 leaf clover, the figure has broken the chains of oppression which connect with the bowl. The circular bowl is embossed "NORGE 1945, BRUTT BLEV LENKER BAND OG TVANG", translated "Broken were chains, ties and constraints", a line taken from Ibsen's Peer Gynt. The back of the spoon is plain, and the hallmarks are clear - makers mark NM, 830.S (830 grade silver), goblet (makers symbol), letter N and MADE IN NORWAY. This particular spoon was made in two different sizes, this is the larger (and rarer) version, suitable for use as a serving spoon. Thorvald Marthinsen Solvvarefabrikk was based in Tonsberg. Note - we also have the smaller version of this spoon, S11410.
A regimental silver match box cover (large size matchbox), with gold crest of the 21st Empress of India Lancers. The box is engraved "Presented by MJ Stapylton Late 21st Hussars", and stands on 4 bun feet. The box is hallmarked, but these are now worn due to over zealous polishing in the mess. The box is also engraved "Asprey London". Major Miles John Stapylton of the Yorkshire Hussars and 21st Lancers was Lord of the Manor of Eston in Myton, York. He was born in 1869 and married in 1900, he had 3 children. The regimental history is interesting. The were designated 21st Hussars in India in 1861, and in 1897 they were re-designated and equipped as 21st Lancers in Cairo. In 1898 they were the only regular cavalry to serve with the army sent to re-conquer Sudan to end Dervish rule. In the now famous Charge at Omdurman, they lost 21 men and won 3 Victoria Crosses. Winston Churchill participatedin this action as a lieutenant. As a result of the charge, they were awarded the title "21st Empress of India Lancers" by...
The General Smuts Cup, a sterling silver shooting trophy awarded to Captain W. Marks of Belfast in 1950. The trophy is a small circular bon-bon dish, on a raised circular foot, with irregular rim featuring scrolls. The dish has an applied silver badge of the SANRA (South African National Rifle Association), of a jumping springbok below crossed rifles, and above a laurel wreath, surrounded by engraving "Capt. W. Marks Belfast, Genl. Smuts Cup 1950". The rim of the foot is also engraved, this is very small and barely visible, it reads "M. Tiger, Bloemfontein", we assume the trophy was re-awarded at a later date. The dish is clearly hallmarked on the base for Birmingham 1939 by Charles Green & Co, given it is engraved 1950 we assume it's use was delayed by World War II. Belfast is a small town in the North East of South Africa, primarily known for coal mining and trout fishing. Field Marshal Jan Smuts (1870-1950) was the Prime Minister of South Africa during World War II, he had a strong friendship with Winston ...
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 antique military silver trophy spoon, awarded by the NRA (National Rifle Association) of Britain as a shooting trophy. The spoon has a NRA medallion set into it, with a scroll engraved "NRA" above the English Coat of Arms, complete with motto's "Dieu et Mon Droit" and "Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense" above an enamelled badge with 2 running antelope. The spoon is substantial and very good quality, with scrolls surrounding the coat of arms, and a leaf pattern on the stem. The back of the spoon is engraved "Emma Thresh Trophy 1921". The Emma Thresh Trophy belongs to the Natal Carbineers, South Africa's senior regiment. The trophy itself is 16 kilograms of silver, and was donated in 1903 by Emma Thresh, as the shooting trophy for Colonial Forces. The spoon also has a registration number, RD444590, which appears twice on the spoon.
An interesting antique silver Scottish Regimental or clan badge, in the form of a brooch. The badge has a crowned phoenix rising out of the flames, over Saltire cross (St. Andrew's cross of Scotland), surrounded by circular motto in latin, "Bon Fin" above, translated "Good End", and "Nemo Me Impune Lacessit" below, translated "No one harasses me with impunity", alternatively "No one can harm me unpunished". The badge has a hinged brooch pin, in full working order. The badge is also clearly hallmarked for Birmingham 1905, with makers mark B&P for Bent & Parker, who were military ornament makers, working between 1869 and 1909. The motto "Nemo Me Impune Lacessit" is the motto of the Royal Stuart dynasty of Scotland, and is used by numerous organisations, regiments and clans. These include The Order of the Thistle, Scottish Regiments The Royals, Scots Guards and Royal Scots Dragoon Guards. It has also been used by The Greys, Highland Fusiliers and Black Watch, along with the Royal Company of Archers. It has also...
A Cape Colony National Rifle Association silver shooting trophy, the Inter Colonial Grand Challenge Shield. The shield is mounted on its original wooden stand, with brass hinge, it also has an additional silver plaque on the back that is engraved "The Grand Challenge Shield 1945". The shield has lovely detail, 6 flags divided by Kings crown, above a ribbon that reads "CAPE COLONY NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION". Below that, the Cape Colony coat of arms with female herald supporters, blowing trumpets. To the right and left Zulu shields and spears above crossed rifles, all above a shooting range scene, with seated adjudicator and spectator with binoculars, surrounded by laurel wreath. The base has a cartouche which reads "INTER COLONIAL GRAND CHALLENGE SHIELD". This shield is also found in white metal and copper, this is a sterling silver version, with a full set of clear hallmarks. It is listed in Laidlaw (Commemorative Medals of South Africa, 1017), it was first produced by Mappin & Webb between 1902 and 1910. Ev...
A Boer War "sweetheart brooch" in 15 carat gold, so we assume the sweetheart was an officer. The brooch carries the badge of an Infantry Regiment, the 19th (County of London) Battalion, St Pancras. It is engraved "South Africa, 1899 - 1902". The gold has a reddish colour, whcih contrasts well with the red and blue enamel. It is lovely quality, even the clasp and pin are in 15 ct gold. Both the brooch and pin are stamped "15ct", these are the only hallmarks. 15 ct gold was only used in Britian between 1854 and 1932, when the 15 ct and 12 ct standards were replaced by 14 carat.
A National Rifle Association 1860 Silver trophy medallion, which would have been awarded as a rifle shooting trophy. The obverse has 2 soldiers, the first a British longbow man with dates 1300-1500, the second a rifleman dated 1860, above motto "Sit Perpetuum" - translated "May it last forever". The reverse has a laurel wreath surrounding "The National Rifle Association 1860". The medallion is excellent quality, and in excellent condition, without any engraving, so perhaps it was never presented. The hallmarks are clear, and include makers mark E&Co for Elkington, who are known for their superb quality. The National Rifle Association of the United Kingdom is a registered charity with a Royal Charter, whose charitable objectives are to promote and encourage marksmanship throughout the Queen’s dominions in the interest of defence and the permanence of the volunteer and auxiliary forces, naval, military and air. The formal purposes of the charity are to promote the efficiency of the armed forces of the Crown, ...
A Cheshire Regiment 9 ct gold sweetheart brooch, with "Cheshire Regt" in blue enamel under the regimental oak leaves. The pin is stamped "9ct gold", no other hallmarks are present. The pin is still in its original box, marked "Dimmer & Son, 20 Eastgate Row, Chester". The regiment was raised in 1689, and won the distinction of wearing the oak leaves at Dettingen, for protecting the king during the battle. The regimental motto is "Ever Glorious". They fought numerous engagements in the Anglo Boer War, including the capture of Johannesburg, and also raised 38 battalions during the Great war. In 2007 the regiment was merged into the Mercian regiment.
