A rare antique sterling silver 1/3 gill tot measure, in the traditional shape of a tankard. The tankard is baluster in shape, the handle just large enough for a finger. The tankard rim is raised, we assume the base indicates the measure point. The base has a design number 74642, the London hallmarks on the side are very clear. The tankard measures 42 millilitres, so a generous double tot, this is 1/3 of a gill using the traditional measures. Tot measures such as this are commonly found in brass, copper, pewter and other base metals, occasionally found in silver plate, solid silver versions such as this one are rare. The gill measure dates back to the 14 Century in Great Britain, 1 gill is a quarter of a pint, 1/6 gill was the traditional single shot whisky measure. Horace Woodward & Co operated between 1875 and 1916.

A lovely set of 12 Art Deco Dutch silver knife rests, in excellent condition and a very pleasing weight. They are classic angular Art Deco design, quite pleasing on the eye. All 12 are hallmarked with makers mark V over half moon, and the Dutch silver single sword mark (1906-1953), used on small work. This is the makers mark of Zilverfabriek Voorschoten, a mark used by Koninklijke Van Kempen & Begeer, founded in 1764 and still in existence today. These knife rests would also be suitable for sushi chopsticks.

A rare and unusual Victorian silver sovereign case, which holds 5 gold sovereigns. The case is circular and is beautifully designed, it opens on a central swivel, into a semi-circle, with slots for 5 sovereigns. The case has a loop, for attachment to a watch chain (Albert), it can also be worn as a pendant. Both sides of the case are decorated with scrolling foliage, and a tulip like flower. This case is good quality, we have not seen this design before. The hallmarks are clear. Edward and Noble Haseler were established in 1883, they had London premises at 94 Hatton Gardens (Culme, Gold & Silversmiths, pg 220).

A lovely 9 carat gold music prize medallion, decorated with crisp and finely detailed musical instruments, including a harp, violin, trombone, oboe and clarinet, complete with sheets of music. The medallion is engraved "SFCC EISTEDDFOD, 1922, SENr Piano Solo, 1st Prize, Miss M Butt". The engraving has been done by hand. The medallion is attached to a gold link by scrolling foliage. The hallmarks are very clear, including makers mark T&S, 9 ct gold hallmarks, Birmingham town mark and date letter for 1922. The ring also has gold hallmarks.

A lovely cast silver belt buckle, probably a nurses buckle depicting a bird, butterfly, flowers and bullrushes (on each buckle). The quality is exceptional, the design is well modelled with lovely detail. The buckle was designed by Winifred Green (wife of Charles), who was a talented designer (Source Culme, London goldsmiths). Charles established the firm in 1903, so this buckle was one of their earlier pieces. The firm still exists today, and has a showroom in Cross St, Hatton Gardens, London. The hallmark is extremely clear.

An interesting sterling silver wine taster, made to commemorate 1000 years of English Monarchy between 973 and 1973. The taster is circular, set with a cast replica coin featuring King Edgar the Peaceful, with inscription "EADGARRE" between two maltese crosses, and head and shoulders of the King. The taster also has a fabulous cast silver handle, rectangular in shape with circular cut away, the handle is textured with a sun ray pattern, both top, bottom and sides, this has a lovely feel in the hand. The taster also has a circular foot, and engraved crown above 1000 and the dates 973-1973. It is a good weight and size, it holds 175 millilitres, so is a good size. King Edgar the Peaceful was crowned at Bath in 973, it was the first British coronation ceremony, other British Kings pledged allegiance. He strove successfully to unite the English and Danes, he also recalled St Dunstan from exile and made him Archbishop of Canterbury. The hallmarks are clear, including makers mark GGM, thers is slight wear to the f...

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.

A sterling silver caddy spoon, with the engraved armorial of the South African Mint (Suid-Afrikaanse Munt). The spoon is substantial, a pleasing weight and good quality. The armorial has the coat of arms of the Union of South Africa (1910-1961), with the symbols of the 4 provinces (Hope with Anchor for the Cape, 2 wildebeests for Natal, orange tree for Orange Free State, and wagon for Transvaal), with motto "Ex Unitate Vires", translated Union is Strength. This is surrounded by 2 wreaths with South African Mint in both English and Afrikaans (the 2 official languages at the time), a building which we think could be the SA Mint building, and strangely a small armorial which appears to be the old Transvaal Republic coat of arms. (explanations welcome!). This spoon is identical in shape and form to the caddy spoon produced by the Pretoria Royal mint between 1923 and 1941, (see examples on our website, S1362 and S 1652), when the Mint became the South African Mint, with the armorial replaced to reflect the change ...

A Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) silver pendant by the famed Murrle Bennett & Co. The pendant is hammered silver, set with a turquoise cabochon, flanked by eight studs and four cut out scrolls. The pendant has the MB&Co makers mark, and 950 standard mark (incuse). Murrle Bennett was founded by Ernst Murrle and JB Bennett, they specialised in high quality but reasonably priced jewellery in the Art Nouveau (Jugendstil) style. They were London based, but production took place in Pforzheim, Germany. They had their own catalog and shop, but also sold through Liberty & Co.

A fabulous pair of Garrard silver napkin rings, of exceptional quality and weight, amongst the heaviest we have encountered, at 85 grammes each (3 ounces each). They are plain, and are engraved with a family armorial and motto "FUGIT", which translates as "It passes". The armorial has 2 parts, the first 3 nags (or horses) heads, with 3 stars and crescent moon, the second a sunflower on barred background (indicating a marriage between 2 families). The napkin rings are perfectly preserved in original box, which reads "By Appointment to HM THE QUEEN, Goldsmiths & Crown Jewellers, Garrard & Co Ltd, 112 Regent Street W1". The hallmarks are very clear on both rings. The arms are those of the family of Borwick impaling Sola, described as "Argent three escarbuncles fesswise sable between three bears' heads erased of the last muzzled or a crescent for difference (Borwick), and Azure a sunflower proper (de Sola)". The armorial commemorates the marriage of The Honourable George Borwick (1922-1994) to Ester Ellerman (nee...

A pair of Scottish Arts and Crafts silver napkin rings, with a wonderful planished (hand hammered) surface. The rings are a very pleasing quality and weight, and the condition is excellent. Both rings are clearly hallmarked with small hallmarks on the interior, one is 2003, the other 2006 but they match perfectly. The are also marked "STERLING 925". The rings are accompanied with original box marked "Eric N Smith Goldsmith Designer". Eric Smith was an award winning designer and Jeweller, based in Glasgow for over 50 years until his retirement in 2018. He also completed a project to restore the Glasgow hallmark in 2013, which had not been used since 1963.

A pair of Scottish sterling silver Millenium napkin riings, elliptical in shape, with the Millenium hallmarks struck as part of the design. The rings are good quality and a very pleasing weight, and do not appear to have been used. The hallmarks have been arranged around the special 2000 cross hallmark, used to celebrate the millenium. Eric Smith was an award winning designer and Jeweller, based in Glasgow for over 50 years until his retirement in 2018. He also completed a project to restore the Glasgow hallmark in 2013, which had not been used since 1963.

An interesting hand crafted silver spoon, made to commemorate the 500 Anniversary of the Worshipful Company of Carpenters in 1977 by Gerald Benney, one of the most influential British silversmiths of the second half of the 20th century. The spoon is a lovely shape, almost puritan in style, and is engraved with the coat of arms of the Carpenters company above the dates 1477 and 1977. The spoon is the size of a large teaspoon, these were awarded as gifts to Liverymen. The coat of arms can be read as "a field silver, a chevron sable (black) grailed and three compasses of the same", the compasses represent carpenters tools and the chevron a roof support. The hallmarks are excellent, they could not be better, and include makers mark AGB in cojoined circles and Silver Jubilee mark used in 1977. Gerald Benney is included as one of the top 50 British silversmiths of his era in the book "Designer British Silver 1930-1985", pgs 86-105, by Andrew & Pearson, a book we highly recommend. He is the only British silversmith ...

A German silver cigarette case, with an engraved horseshoe and riding crop, with a ruby embedded in the horseshoe. The case is 800 grade silver, and has post 1888 German silver hallmarks (moon and crown, followed by 800). The horseshoe signifies good luck, the ruby passion, and the crop is a riding or hunting crop.

An interesting Needham's Patent mechanical silver calling card case, with a ribbed sliding mechanism to push out a calling card. The case is rectangular, with a hinged lid, the sliding mechanism is easy to control with the thumb. Both the case and lid are clearly hallmarked, the lid is also stamped PATENT. These have also been described as vesta cases for long vestas, the slide being the matchstrike, we think this attribution is incorrect. Henry Williamson worked between 1894 and 1914, so a career cut off by the advent of World War I. Note - we have 2 similar examples of this needhams patent card case.

An Arts & Crafts silver caddy spoon, with a round bowl, curved fish tail handle, and planished (hand hammered) finish. A very similar caddy spoon is depicted in the book "The Caddy Spoon in the 20th Century", page 15, illustration d, which was made by George Hart of the Guild of Handicraft in 1977 (our spoon lacks the thread decoration). The spoon is clearly hallmarked for London 1963, with makers mark W.H.W. for William Henry Warmington (Harry). Harry Warmington was "an integral member of the Guild of Handicraft workshop for some 50 years, he was one of the best silversmiths to have worked in Campden, he was also a fine engraver. Despite his abilities, he never applied to become a Freeman of the Goldsmith's Company", quote from the book "The Harts of Chipping Campden, pg 31. Harry was recruited by George Hart in 1912 from the local grammar school, he joined the infantry in 1914 on the outbreak of World War I, then the Royal Flying Corps in 1916, he was based at Farnborough at an aircraft repair depot, he rej...

An interesting pair of cast silver acorn spoons, very good quality, with lovely naturalistic detail. The spoons have cast acorn bowls, the bowls are quite deep, the stems are modelled as a textured branch with nodes of baby acorns, the finial is also an acorn between 2 leaves. With the texture these spoons are pleasing to hold, they could be used for condiments, they could also be used as coffee spoons (although they are quite long). The hallmarks on both spoons are very clear, including makers mark G.W in diamond punch for Graham Watling. Watling began his career as a Royal Marine Commando, then moved to teaching Arts & Crafts, before becoming a silversmith around 1970, based in the National Trust village of Lacock in Wiltshire. He died in 1996, his children have continued the business in Lacock (www.watlings.com). Watling is represented by no less than 8 pieces in the Pearson Collection of post war British silver (www.pearsonsilvercollection.com), a testament of his ability. Watling features in the newly pu...

A novelty pincushion of a chick, with original pincushion intact, and generally in very good condition. The chick is realistically modelled with fine detail and is good quality, as is usual for items made by Sampson Mordan. The hallmarks are very clear, including makers mark SM&Co.

A set of 6 Art Nouveau silver buttons, with a typical Art Nouveau style female head with long flowing hair. The detail is good, and the hallmarks are clear on all 6 buttons. The buttons are still in their original fitted case, which is intact and in working order, but scuffed on the outside and faded and worn in the interior.

A stunning sterling silver nurses belt buckle, complete with original silver clasp and original black petersham belt. The buckle is very interesting, it features a Viking longboat with lion prow, and a serpent sail, beneath 2 maple leaves, above motto "Ratione Dirige Cursom", translated "Pursue Proper Studies", or "Govern your Course by Reason". This is the coat of arms of University College Hospital London, blazoned "an ancient galley, charged with a serpent nowed and in chief two maple leafs slipped", it was granted in 1907. The belt buckle is clearly hallmarked for London 1934, made by Frederick Smythe-Greenwood and Herbert Alwyn Watts, who worked between 1914 and 1934. The clasp is also hallmarked. University College Hospital (UCH), previously called North London Hospital, is a teaching hospital still working today. It was founded in 1834, Agatha Christie was a staff member, and the first amputation under ether was performed here in 1846 by Robert Liston. The Cruciform building was built in 1907, still in...