A late 17th century Augsburg silver brandy bowl, with a beautiful embossed scene in high relief. The bowl is the traditional shape, a scalloped oval dish with 2 scroll handles, with the base and sides embossed in great detail. The base features a basket of fruit, flowers and nuts in abundance, under 2 flying doves holding a laurel wreath, below rays (we assume to signify God looking down on a bountiful harvest). The sides are embossed with scrolls, the sides are also gilded, with quite a bit or original gilding still present, the base has no gilding. The bowl is clearly hallmarked with the Augsburg town mark of a pyr (pinecone), not a pineapple as sometimes described. The bowl is also hallmarked with an indistinct makers mark, we think PL (all assistance welcome), and a well defined assay scrape (zigzag).

A rare Charles II Restoration period silver porringer, made by Ralph Leeke, one of the leading goldsmiths of the late 17th century, in 1669. The porringer is the traditional shape and size (noticeably larger than later examples), and is chased in high relief with a running stag and hunting hound, surrounded by bold Stuart flowers (we think daffodils and poppies), these bold flowers predate the commoner restrained acanthus decoration introduced around 1680. The porringer has the traditional cast caryatid scroll handles with faces on both sides. The flat circular base is engraved with original owners initials F/SM, the engraving has character. The porringer has 6 hallmarks on the base, crowned leopards head town mark for London, date letter Gothic M for 1669 (slight wear to top but unmistakable for 1669), Lion passant, and makers mark RL above trefoil in shaped shield struck 3 times, 2 are partially worn but still readable and 1 mark is very clear. Ralph Leeke (or Leake) has been described as "a fine 17th centu...

A lovely Queen Anne Dognose (also called wavy end) spoon in Brittania silver. The Dognose was popular during the Queen Anne period, and the transition between the earlier Trefid and later Hanoverian can clearly be seen. This spoon is clearly engraved "S*B" on the back of the spoon, which is correct as spoons were placed bowl down on the table at this time. The S*B mark of the original owners probably signifies a betrothal. The spoon has a very pronounced rat-tail, and is quite good quality, this spoon has a nice feel. The makers mark Br above fleur de lys in shaped shield is very clear, this is Grimwade mark 209, the mark is clearly struck, with slight wear to the r. The remaining 3 marks are squashed (the stem was shaped after the hallmarks were struck) and partially worn, but still legible enough to see Brittania, Lions head erased and date letter for 1712. John Broake was freed in 1699 and worked until 1712, he was a specialist spoonmaker. A marrow scoop made by John Broake, also in 1712, is depicted in t...

A lovely Queen Anne Dognose (also called wavy end) spoon in Brittania silver. The Dognose was popular during the Queen Anne period, and the transition between the earlier Trefid and later Hanoverian can clearly be seen. This spoon is clearly engraved "S*B" on the back of the spoon, which is correct as spoons were placed bowl down on the table at this time. The S*B mark of the original owners probably signifies a betrothal. The spoon has a very pronounced rat-tail, and is quite good quality, this spoon has a nice feel. The makers mark Br above fleur de lys in shaped shield is very clear, this is Grimwade mark 209, the mark is clearly struck, but given the narrow spoon handle only a portion of the r is cisible. The remaining 3 marks are squashed (the stem was shaped after the hallmarks were struck) and partially worn, but still legible enough to see Brittania, Lions head erased and date letter for 1712. John Broake was freed in 1699 and worked until 1712, he was a specialist spoonmaker. A marrow scoop made by J...