A Georgian silver wine label by Hester Bateman, engraved for Brandy. The label rectangular with a pierced fret dome, this neoclassical design originated in the Bateman studio, and was copied by others, including Susannah Barker and Hampston & Prince in York (Wine Labels 1730-2003, pages 174 and 234). The label has a zig zag feather edge border, raised eyelets, the piercing of the scrolls in the dome is lovely. The label has 2 hallmarks, both clearly struck, makers mark HB in script for Hester Bateman and lion passant. The absence of a duty mark enables us to date the label to before 1784 when the duty mark was introduced, this neoclassical design is thought to orininate around 1770 (Wine Labels page 50).

A rare and lovely early Scottish Provincial Hanoverian tablespoon, with excellent marks. This is a very fine spoon, good weight and condition, a pleasure to hold. The spoon has a long drop, and quite a wide end with an oval shaped bowl. The spoon is initialled with script letter K, this is contemporary, and is engraved on the back of the spoon. The spoon has four very clear hallmarks, makers mark IS struck twice in a distinctive shaped punch, with two indentations on each side of the punch. The third hallmark is the Dundee "Pot of Lilies" town mark, the shape of each lily clearly visible. The forth mark is a letter "M" with unusual shape, occasionally used by John Steven (Turner, Directory of Scottish Provincial Silversmiths, pg 62, and Jackson, pg 600). A similar spoon by John Steven, without "M" mark, was sold as Lot 192 of "Private Collection of Scottish Provincial Flatware, Woolley & Wallis, January 2009, pg 34". John Steven was a very fine silversmith, we have just seen a pair of cast candlesticks...

A private die Scottish silver tablespoon, a rare spoon of fabulous quality, made by leading Glaswegian silversmiths Robert Gray & Sons. The spoon has a die stamped family crest of a stag above a knights helmet, this is beautifully struck. The spoon is a variant of Kings pattern, with hourglass shape and honeysuckle, but the shell on the front has been removed to make place for the family crest. The spoon is double struck, which is unusual for Scottish silver, and the spoon has no shoulders. The spoon is over 100 grammes, so a pleasure to hold and use. The hallmarks are clear, and are accompanied by a star, possibly a journeyman's mark. Private die flatware was individually commissioned with the family crest die-stamped rather than engraved on a stock pattern (Pickford, Silver Flatware, page 173). Most 19th century private die patterns were supplied through Hunt & Roskell to members of the peerage and other wealthy clients. Pickford describes these as "fascinating, but obviously impossible to build into servic...

A set of 4 Irish Georgian dessert spoons, bottom marked, with excellent hallmarks on all 4 spoons. The spoons are Old English pattern, and have an engraved family crest of an armoured arm holding a dagger, this engraving is crisp and clear. Bottom marked hallmarks, used before 1790, are seldom clear, they are often squashed, these marks are excellent. They include makers mark IK in rectangular punch with rounded corners, and without dot, according to Douglas Bennett, in his book Collecting Irish Silver, this mark could belong to 3 different silversmiths, John Kavanagh (1783-1819), John Kelly (1780-1794) or James Kennedy (1768-1803), all three of which fall in the date range. More research is required on these makers, the makers mark on these spoons are very clear.

A rare Regency rose pattern punch ladle, this is a beautiful ladle. The ladle is gilded, and has an engraved rams head family crest on the back. The ladle is the shape of a soup ladle, but is noticeably smaller, hence our description as a punch ladle (bowl is 7.0 cm by 5.5 cm). The pattern is double struck, and has good detail, with trailing roses, and Anthemion heel (Pickford, Silver Flatware, pg 131). The hallmarks are clear, the makers mark is slightly obscured, but the Script H used by Hayne is identifiable. Jonathan Hayne was freed in 1804, he had a flourishing business, and was Prime Warden in 1843, he died in 1848. Pickford describes the Rose pattern as rare, and he notes 2 different types (different heels). Close examination shows that these spoons have a slightly different design from the one depicted in Pickfords Flatware book (pg 131), with more leaves, so different dies must have been made.

A Regency silver sauce boat, by the highly respected firm of Emes and Barnard. The sauce boat is the traditional shape, with leaf capped flying scroll handle, 3 shell and hoof feet, and heavy cast gadroon border. The boat is a generous size and weight, over 330 grammes, this is a good quality sauce boat, as you would expect from these makers. The boat has a lovely engraved family crest, a church with spire, with crosses on the roof and spire. The hallmarks are very clear, including makers mark RE over EB and date letter e for 1820. Rebecca Emes was married to John Emes, who was in partnership with the Chawners, he died in 1808 and Rebecca became a partner. Edward Barnard rose from workshop manager to full partner, also in 1808. Emes and Barnard was one of the most successful London silver businesses in its day, they supplied many leading retailers, including Rundell, Bridge and Rundell. Barnard was joined by his 3 sons, Culme describes Edward Barnard & Sons as an important firm, the oldest manufacturing silve...

Two Cape silver four prong Old English pattern konfyt (preserve) forks, by Johannes Combrink. The forks are similar but have slight differences when viewed together, so probably made at different times. The longer fork has a wider stem end, but shorter tines, and is 1 gramme heavier. Both are hallmarked with a single makers mark IC (Welz mark 32, pg 147), both are clear and well struck.

A set of Cape silver dessert forks in the Fiddle pattern, with engraved initials "WAM". These forks have a strong colonial feel, the shape and size differs from the traditional English Fiddle pattern. The forks are a small, delicate size, my better half describes them as "sweet". The hallmarks on all 8 forks are excellent, and consist of makers mark JT (with indent to top of makers mark) with individually struck pseudo English hallmarks (duty mark, lion passant, date letter a and tree), Welz mark 123 in Cape Silver. Townsend was described as "the most versatile of all the Cape English silversmiths" by Heller (pg 101).

An interesting and rare early vinaigrette, the grille of the vinaigrette does not have a hinge, but fits as a snug cap which can be completely removed. The vinaigrette is oval in shape, the grille is plain with irregular punch holes with no pattern, the grille and interior of the vinaigrette are gilded. The grille has a small thumbpiece on one side, this fits into concave opening in the side of the vinaigrette base. Close examination of the vinaigrette shows no sign of hinge removal, we are confident it was originally made to be a removable grille without hinge. The gilding is a lemon colour, with some scratches and imperfections. The original sponge is present. The hallmarks on the lid are very clear, and include date letter X for 1795, lion passant and makers mark T.W in oval punch. The hallmarks on the base include a very clear maker mark, good anchor town mark and partial duty mark. Thomas Willmore was the patriarch of the Willmore Genealogy, one of the leading families of Birmingham toy makers, known fo...

A rare pair of Cape silver mustard spoons, in the Fiddle pattern with gilded bowls, with pseudo English hallmarks. The hallmarks include makers mark JT in damaged punch (Welz mark 123), and 4 pseudo marks (Georgian duty, date letter a, leopards head and date letter J, Welz mark 122, page 153). One spoon has excellent hallmarks, the second has good hallmarks, some slight wear. Heller does record Cape made salt and mustard spoons, and depicts 6 salt spoons in his book "History of Cape Silver" (pg 202, plate 67). Cape mustard spoons appear to be be much rarer than salt spoons, none are known in any of the Cape silver reference books. We have sold a similar Cape mustard spoon by Townsend, (but slighty longer and different combination of pseudo marks), see S 1818.

Rectangular, plain but elegant teapot on 4 ball feet, characteristic of the style between 1805 and 1810. Wooden handle and ivory finial. Beautiful tree stump crest, excellent hallmarks, including lid.

A Belgium antique silver matching tablespoon and table fork in the Fiddle and Thread pattern, made in Brussels circa 1832 by leading silversmith Auguste Bonnevie. Both are a pleasing weight, these are good quality items. The pair have an interesting family or city crest engraved on the back, a shield with 4 small crosses surrounding a larger cross, below Royal crown, above "Bruges". The Cross surrounded by 4 crosslets is the Jerusalem Cross, originally used as the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, but since used for various Crusader states, and now used as the Georgian flag. Above the crest original owners initials OI are also engraved. Both spoon and fork have the same 3 hallmarks, very clear makers mark of B below silversmiths hammer in square punch (makers mark 1921 in the book "Belgische Zilvermerken" by R Stuyck, pages 41 and 185), for Auguste Bonnevie. Bonnevie worked from 1814 to 1869 (a long period so possibly father and son), based in Brussels. The second mark is the Minerva head guarantee ma...

A provincial silver trefid spoon, made in Exeter in 1714. The spoon has an oval bowl, rat-tail with ribs, a flat stem and the traditionally shaped end with 2 clefts, with a slight upturn. The spoon is engraved "MH 1707" on the back of the spoon, the MH are co-joined, and the engraving is contemporary. During this period spoons were placed on the table bowl down, hence the engraving on the back. The spoon is quite light, as is often the case with provincial spoons, but in very good condition, given its age. The spoon has 5 hallmarks, makers mark MA co-joined, 3 turreted castle (Exeter town mark), Brittania (very worn), lions head erased (used in Exeter between 1701 and 1720 to denote Britannia silver, which is higher grade than Sterling), and date letter O in shield for 1714. The makers mark appears to be MA co-joined, but could also be read the other way around (?W). We now believe this to be the mark of John Manley I of Dartmouth, who entered his mark in Exeter in 1705 (See mark 86, West Country Spoons and t...

Two early Georgian silver Hanoverian tablespoons, engraved with the Davy family crest. The spoons both have a strong front rib and double drop, both features of early Hanoverians. Both are clearly engraved with original armorials for the Davy family of Beckley, Sussex, on the back of the spoons (spoons were displayed bowl down during this period). The crest is described as "sable a fess or between three cinquefoils argent, the lozenge is tied at the top with a lovers knot that denotes the arms of a spinster", see heraldic report which accompanies these spoons. The spoons probably belonged to an unmarried daughter of the Davy family of Beckley, Sussex. The first spoon has clear hallmarks, including WH makers mark for William Hunter, and date letter i for 1744. The second spoon has squashed marks, but the makers mark JL for Jeremiah Lee is clear.

Gilt, engine turned vinaigrette with original sponge and very good hinge. Engraved "J Lang, 1835". Grille has flowers set amongst scrolling foliage.

Lovely set of Kings pattern (with diamond point) Cape tableforks, of very good quality and gauge - the forks are 100 grams each, very heavy to hold. Cape flatware in Kings pattern is fairly rare, the most prevalent patterns being Fiddle and Old English. These forks all have the same English pseudo hallmarks (leopards head, date letter A, duty mark and lion, Welz mark 135), struck by the same punch in the same workshop. However, 4 have the maker mark LT (Twentyman), and two have the makers mark FW (Waldek). This is not unusual, as Waldek worked for Twentyman, and probably took over the business when Twentyman departed for India, circa 1835.

A set of 3 Irish Provincial silver dessert forks in the Fiddle pattern, made by Richard Garde of Cork in 1835. The forks are all engraved with a family crest of a Griffin, above engraved owners initials (possibly GT in script), the engraving is on the back of the forks, showing they were placed facing down on the table during those times. The forks are all clearly hallmarked, makers mark R.G, mark 86, page 191, Collecting Irish Silver by Douglas Bennett (a book we highly recommend). The crowned harp, Hibernia and date letter P are all clear, one duty mark is clear and 2 duty marks are worn but still visible. The Dublin Goldsmiths company passed an act in 1807 requiring the Kings head to be stamped on all plate made in Ireland. As this could only be done in Dublin, it forced the provincial goldsmiths to start sending silver to Dublin for hallmarking. Garde, who worked in Cork between 1824 and 1845, was presumably the son of silversmith Phineas Garde, who complied intermittently with the Dublin act. The Act sha...

A Canadian silver tablespoon in the Fiddle pattern, made by Salomon Marion in Montreal Canada, who has been described as "one of the best silversmiths of his time". The spoon is a very pleasing quality, and is in excellent condition, it is a pleasure to use. The spoon is engraved with a very clear family crest, a bird (stork or heron?) holding an anchor, this is engraved on the front of the spoon. The spoon is clearly hallmarked with makers mark S Marion in script, in an unusually shaped punch, slightly wider over the S and M - this is very clear, and is a better example that the one depicted in the book "Candian Silversmiths 1700-1900 by John Langdon, page 100. This is accompanied by 2 pseudo hallmarks, a skinny lion passant and Georgian duty mark, both are very clear. Salomon Marion (1782-1830) was apprenticed to leading silversmith Pierre Huguet dit Latour, and was freed in 1803. He produced church silver for his former master, and trade silver for a variety of merchants, before establishing his own busine...

A Canadian silver tablespoon in the Fiddle pattern, made by Salomon Marion in Montreal Canada, who has been described as "one of the best silversmiths of his time". The spoon is a very pleasing quality, and is in excellent condition, it is a pleasure to use. The spoon is engraved with a very clear family crest, a bird (stork or heron?) holding an anchor, this is engraved on the front of the spoon. The spoon is clearly hallmarked with makers mark S Marion in script, in an unusually shaped punch, slightly wider ofver the S and M - this is very clear, and is a better example that the one depicted in the book "Candian Silversmiths 1700-1900 by John Langdon, page 100. This is accompanied by 2 pseudo hallmarks, a skinny lion passant and Georgian duty mark, both are very clear. Salomon Marion (1782-1830) was apprenticed to leading silversmith Pierre Huguet dit Latour, and was freed in 1803. He produced church silver for his former master, and trade silver for a variety of merchants, before establishing his own busin...

A pair of early Georgian Hanoverian tableforks with 3 tines or prongs, made by the leading Huguenot spoonmaker of his day. The forks are a pleasing quality, and are in excellent condition, with no engraving, we really like these forks. The forks are bottom marked, as is usual for this period, as a result the hallmarks are slightly squashed, some are clear and some partially visible. The first fork has very clear PH under acorn makers mark (this could not be better), with worn lion passant and crowned leopards head town mark, and a partially visible K for 1725, good enough to be certain of the date. The second fork also has partially worn lion passant and crowned leopards head town mark, and a partially visible K for 1725, but makers mark is not visible. Paul Hanet is described by Grimwade (London Goldsmiths, page 532) "from the evidence of the survival of pieces bearing his mark, Hanet was clearly one of the principal Huguenot spoonmakers of his day". Hanet entered his first London mark in 1716, he was "Fre...