An Edwardian silver and enamel novelty vesta case, of circular form with hinged flip top lid and striker built into the base. The vesta has an applied enamel in silver rope border, featuring a pack of 8 English foxhounds, very attractively modelled with lovely colours. Vesta cases (also called matchsafes) were used to store vestas (early matches before safety matches were invested), they were very popular between 1890 and 1910.

A Royal Sussex Regiment 15 carat gold and enamel sweetheart brooch, probably dating from the 1st World War, but possibly earlier (Anglo Boer War). The brooch consists of the Garter Star with Roussillon plume, red enamel cross, blue enamel motto "Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense", above blue enamel scroll "The Royal Sussex Rgt". The star and plume are white gold, which contrasts nicely with the yellow gold of the enamel and bar. The badge is mounted on a bar brooch with Y shaped safety clasp, the pin, hinge and clasp are all gold. Both the badge and bar are hallmarked 15CT for 15 carat gold, this standard of gold was discontinued by Britain in 1932, hence we can date this brooch to the Great War. The Royal Sussex Regiment was established in 1881, they saw service in the Anglo Boer War, World War I and World War II. They were amalgamated with other regiments in 1966. The brooch also has a old ring link at the top, so could also be worn as a pendant on a chain.

An antique sterling silver shoe, we hesitate to call it miniature as it is almost real size, perhaps a child's size, we assume originally intended as a sugar bowl. It is in the traditional form as silver miniature shoes, a replica of a 16th century court shoe, profusely decorated with flowers, leaves and scrolls, with a bow on the front, and shaped heel at the back. it has been well preserved in its original box (silk and velvet, a good quality box), the box reads "Cutler Jeweller Jersey". The shoe is clearly hallmarked, the hallmarks hidden in the decoration but clearly legible, the base of the heel is also hallmarked. JF Cutler was a prestigious Jeweller who operated from 2 Queen's Street (still a jeweller today trading as Goldsmiths), he is known to have been there between 1900 and 1920.

A cast silver reproduction of the Lady in Crinoline caddy spoon, originally made by John Figg in 1844. The spoon depicts a lady in a crinoline dress carrying a parasol, the bowl is a matt chased rocaille shell. Being cast, this is an extremely heavy caddy spoon at 42 grammes, it is superb quality. The original is a highly important and extremely rare caddy spoon, it is depicted in John Norie's Caddy spoon book (plate 10) and also in the book "Investing in Silver" by Eric Delieb, pg 31, where it is pictured and described as "the superb little lady in the crinoline of the chinoiserie revival period". A similar spoon was part of the John Norie collection of caddy spoons, sold as lot 99, part 1 (Woolley & Wallis, April 2004). The hallmarks are clear. Note - The Society of Caddy Spoon Collectors (http://www.caddyspoonsociety.org) has just published a very interesting article about this caddy spoon in it's October 2020 bulletin, entitled "Lady in a Crinoline". It states that in "1967 a rogue silversmith chanced his...

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 set of 13 sterling silver Apostle spoons, as follows: The Master, St. Peter, St. John, St. Matthew, St. Andrew, St. Philip, St. Jude, St. James the Greater, St. James the Less, St. Matthias, St. Simon, St. Thomas, and St. Bartholomew. The Apostles are well modeled, with lovely detail, as can be seen from the photographs. For example, St. Peter has keys, St. Simon a saw, St Andrew a cross, St. Jude an axe, and St. James a staff and bible. The spoons are from a set (no 117), issued by The Heritage Collection in 1978, limited to 1000 sets. The hallmarks are clear, and include maker mark CM (Cape Mint, part of the Pagliari Group), STG for Sterling silver, antelope head for South Africa, and date letter E for 1978. All the spoons have the Apostle's name engraved on the stem, and the set number 117. They come complete with original signed certificate and explanatory booklet, with information on all the apostles, origin and how they were made, also the original advertising letter. Note: We have sold a previous set...

A British Military World War II Silver Chaplain's Chalice Set (an identical pair, but one is sterling silver and the other is silver plate). The Chalices are a standard design dating back to the 17th century, with a semi spherical bowl, a knobbed baluster stem (designed for grip with thumb either above or below), and a circular domed foot with a rim. Both chalices are engraved with a cross, and are on the small size, so probably designed for travel. The silver plated chalice has a gilded interior, the gilding is good. Whilst both chalices appear identical, the sterling silver one is heavier (171 grams vs 142 grams for the plated version. Both chalices are clearly marked with the broad arrow (sometimes called crows foot or pheon), this mark is associated with the War Department, but has a history that dates back to Henry VIII and the establishment of the Board of Ordnance by Sir Philip Sydney, originally to mark supplies to the Royal Navy. In 1875 the symbol was listed in the Public Stores Act, and was used to...

An antique silver picture frame, in Art Nouveau form, depicting 3 farm workers in the fields cutting hay with scythes, with a village church in the background, with the motto "Peace hath her victories, Milton". The quote by Milton (1608-1674) apparently in a letter to Lord General Cromwell, is the first line of a sonnet "Peace hath her victories, no less renowned than war". This line is amongst the most remembered of Milton's work. The hallmarks are small but clear, and the frame also has a registration number (to protect the design being copied). This frame has a new black velvet backing professionally done, the original velvet backings on these antique picture frames is often in very poor condition. With the new backing, this frame is suitable for daily use and display.

A set of 6 Norwegian silver cake forks in the Lilje (Lily) pattern, made by one of Norway's leading silversmiths, Magnus Aase, circa 1939. The forks are in the 830 silver grade, and their quality is excellent, they are also a pleasing size and weight (25 grammes each), so very suitable for use. The Lily pattern was designed by Trigve Eriksen in 1939, described as a simple yet elegant expression of the Lily, typical of the artistic style of the 1930's. This pattern is still produced today by Arven, described as one of their most popular patterns, they descend from Theodor Olsen, Magnus Aase, Marius Hammer, Jacob Tostrup and the Lohne brothers (www.arven.no). The hallmarks are clear on all 6 forks, and include 830S standard mark, MA makers mark, NM for "Norsk Monster" (patent) and N , possibly a date letter.

An antique silver nutcracker, quite a rare item as nutcrackers are usually silver plate, occasionally with silver handles, this example is solid silver, so quite an extravagance in it's day. The nutcracker is the usual form, with 2 handles connected with an extremely strong hinge, the arms are reversible, so can be turned around to accommodate different sized nuts. The cracking portion is oval in shape, with textured sides to hold nut firmly in place, with rectangular hole to allow shell to pass through. The handles are rounded, with balls on the ends. These are good quality nutcrackers, quite heavy at just under 200 grammes, and very suitable for use. Both arms and the hinge are clearly hallmarked. William Comyns & Sons was an important firm of manufacturing silversmiths, established in 1859, they supplied many of the leading retailers, including Tiffany, Thornhills of New Bond Street, and Carringtons, Wilson & Gill and Goldsmiths & Silversmiths of Regent Street (Culme, Directory of Gold and Silversmiths, pa...

A collection of 10 sterling silver souvenir spoons, all from a different British town. The spoons were made in Birmingham, London, Chester and Sheffield, with dates ranging from 1893 to 1919. All 10 spoons have clear hallmarks. The 10 include: 1. Ripon, Birmingham 1912, Levi & Salaman, crest in bowl 2. Bideford, Chester 1906, John Millward Banks with flower trademark, engraved Bediiforde 1577 Sicillun Comvne De 3. Brighton, Birmingham 1918, Levi & Salaman, engraved In Deo Fidemus 4. Scarborough, Birmingham 1905, Levi & Salaman 5. Canterbury, Birmingham 1901, Turnbull Brothers, Cathedral in bowl 6. Oxford, Birmingham 1911, gilded armorial in bowl 7. Manchester Ship Canal, Sheffield 1893, Henry Wigfull, gilded armorial in bowl, cast handle with Navigation & Commerce 8. Unknown town, London 1899, Saunders & Shepherd, cast floral handle, lovely quality 9. Unknown town, Birmingham 1908, Joseph Cook & Sons 10. Oxford University, Sheffield 1919, Joseph Rodgers Note- The earlier spoons pre 1900 are notic...

Beautiful, reversible blue enamel pendant and choker, designed by Bjorn Sigurd Ostern for David Andersen. The pendant is reversible, and looks remarkably different when worn the different ways. It hangs very well, and is most striking when worn. The choker is original, and is also silver. Ostern was the chief designer for Andersen between 1961 and 1985. The pendant is clearly hallmarked, David-Andersen, Norway Sterling 925S, INV.B.S.O., and the choker is also hallmarked Andersen and 925S.

A lovely set of Jugendstil German 800 silver teaspoons, of very good quality. The spoons all have a cast crest depicting an eagle within a shield, over a cross within another shield. This has the appearance of a military crest, but this is not our area of expertise. The spoons are in their original box, marked "HG Berg, Guldsmed, Sandefjord", which is in Norway - so the possibility exists that the spoons were manufactured in Germany for the Norwegian market, so the crest could be Norwegian. Note - The spoons weigh 145 grams, not 160 grams as per our original description. Close inspection also reveals that 4 spoons are by maker S in circle (which we have not been able to identify), 2 spoons have a zig-zag makers mark, which we believe is Wilhelm Muller of Berlin, who worked between 1880-1940.

Beautiful Italian silver polo trophy, in the shape of a bowl. The bowl is a very good weight, and has an interesting pierced scrolling rim, and cast leaf - capped cabriole legs. It is engraved with a crest of crossed polo sticks and "Roma Polo Club". The hallmarks are clear, being 800 standard, dancing horse, makers mark and the Republican period and province mark (280 MI). The bowl has an interesting provenance, being purchased from the estate of the late Countessa Alessandra Brenciaglia. The trophy was won by Conte Carlo Brenciaglia (father of Alessandra) circa 1935, a champion polo player. The Brenciaglia family castle is La Rocca in Capodimonte, and the family history shows the Brenciaglia's related to Napoleon Bonaparte (thanks to Sandi Brenciaglia for information).

A magnificent pair of Arts & Crafts silver Apostle spoons, made by George Henry Hart of the Guild of Handicraft. The spoons are clearly made by hand, with cast finials and hand hammered bowl, with clearly visible hammer marks. The quality of these spoons is fabulous, we love them! The spoons have a stylised beaded rattail, quite unusual, but a lovely feature. The Apostle figure wears a hooded cowl, and has his hands crossed in front of his body. The figure sits on a traditional hexagonal seal top, the stem of the spoon is rounded. The hallmarks on both spoons are very clear, including makers mark "GofH", (without Ltd, in use between 1900 and 1908). The Guild of Handicraft went into liquidation in 1908, the business was continued by George Henry Hart, who designed these spoons, possibly for Prinknash Abbey. The business is still operating today, and run by Julian Hart, great grandson of George Hart (see www.hartsilversmiths.co.uk), in the beautiful village of Chipping Campden, well worth a visit. We rec...

An interesting Zambian Arts and Crafts sterling silver and malachite milk jug, sugarbowl and sugar spoon, made by the most prestigious jewellery company in Zambia. The milk jug is in the form of a brandy saucepan (perhaps it is!), with straight sides and a sparrow beak spout, and polished malachite handle. The sugar bowl is spherical, with 4 malachite cabochons as decoration, and 3 curved feet and planished body, very similar in style to Liberty Cymric Archibald Knox pieces (he used turquoise). Both are hand hammered, with planished surface, clearly made by hand, the bowl more noticeable than the jug. The spoon is also lovely, with a malachite pearl in dragons foot finial, rounded handle with a knob for grip, also clearly made by hand. All 3 pieces are hallmarked, firstly with S925 standard mark, and secondly with makers mark KR in Zambian country outline. Klaus Rygaard is a Danish Jeweller and watchmaker, he emigrated to Lusaka, Zambia in 1965, took over a jewellery store, he later established his own goldsm...

A beautifully modelled solid silver Kudu antelope, with impressive horns, this is very realistic. The kudu is a good size and weight, 2 silver pins on the feet connect it solidly to the wooden base, which has a felt base, this is heavy enough to be a desk paperweight. The kudu is clearly hallmarked, triangle antelope head mark (Zimbabwe), crescent moon makers mark and 865 standard mark, so slightly lower than sterling grade. Realistic animal sculptures by Patrick Mavros of Zimbabwe are held in high esteem, given the quality of the modelling perhaps this silversmith was trained by Mavros. Note - We have now identified the maker as Silver Creations of Harare, Zimbabwe circa 1987, from a similar set accompanied with Certificate of Assay by D Ewing. The owner has also established that Silver Creations has no links with Patrick Mavros. We would like to thank the owner of the set for sharing this information with us. Note 2 - Another owner of an identical piece has now contacted us, his is numbered 958 so perhaps ...

A set of 24 gilded sterling silver medallions, produced to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Wildlife Society of Southern Africa. The medallions are all in perfect condition, and are beautifully engraved, these are extremely high quality. Each weighs 36.5 grammes, has a proof like finish and is gold plated sterling silver. The complete set comes in original wooden box with red leather top and velvet and silk lined interior. The medallions depict 24 different South African wild animals including: baboon, buffalo, cheetah, crocodile, elephant, fish eagle, giraffe, green mamba, hippopotamus, hyena, impala, jackal, kudu, leopard, lion, oryx, rhinoceros, sable antelope, secretary bird, vervet monkey, warthog, waterbuck, wildebeest, and zebra. The reverse depicts the emblem of the Wildlife Society, a stylised sable antelope, surrounded by "ANNIVERSARY 50 HERDENKING". Each medallion also carries 4 hallmarks, "ET+, STG, antelope head, date letter C, being South African sterling hallmarks made by Africana Mint. T...

A very rare Arts & Crafts hand hammered silver sugar bowl, with twin handles, resting on a circular reeded foot. The bowl is by Philip Frederick Alexander, who has been described as "one of the greatest Arts & Crafts silversmiths" (www.antiquesilvercompany.com). The bowl has beautiful spot hammering throughout, leaving a planished appearance, with solid D shaped handles, it is also a pleasing weight. Alexander worked between 1900 and 1920, from Church Row, Hampstead, London. He also lived in Walberswick, Suffolk, both prior and after World War 1. He would have known Charles Rennie Mackintosh, who spent a year in Walberswick during the war. He had a Master of Arts degree from Oxford (unusual for a silversmith), he was also an author of geographical discovery books, including "The Discovery of America and The North West and North East Passages", still available on Amazon (www.styles-silver.co.uk, who also have a few pieces of his work, all unfortunately sold). The hallmarks are excellent, including makers mark...

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.