A silver quaich of traditional shape, with 2 flat lug handles, and quite a large size. It is quite plain, which accentuates its lovely shape. The base is engraved "H.H. Plante, 12 Bury St, St James, S.W.", and the hallmarks are very clear. Quaiches are traditional Scottish drinking vessels, one's this size were passed around at ceremonial occasions. They are popular christening gifts in Scotland. The firm of H.H. Plante (Henry Hudson Plante) worked between 1907 and 1980.

Three sterling silver napkin rings, shooting trophies for the Natal Rifle Association. The first is engraved "The Emma Thresh Trophy, 1929", the second "Murray-Smith Memorial, 1925, 2st Team", and the third "Royston Memorial 1st Team 1928", all three have an applied cast shield "Natal Rifle Association, Semper Paratus, 1862". The hallmarks are clear on all 3 napkin rings, makers mark F.H.A.& Co, for FH Adam and company of Birmingham, this mark was used 1919-1935. 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 both the Boer War and Great war, he was awarded the Companion of the Distinguished Order and Croix de Guerre. He was an excellent shot, and won the Clark Kennedy Challenge Cup at Bisley during Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, he als...

A boxed set of six sterling silver Hanoverian pattern teapoons, with matching sugar tongs. The spoons all have rat tails, and the tongs have the spoon pattern repeated on the arms. The quality is good, as you would expect from Mappin & Webb. The original box reads "Mappin & Webb Ltd, Regent Street, London W", this would have been an expensive item when new. All 7 items have excellent hallmarks, the 6 spoons are 1919, the tongs 1920. Mappin and Webb was founded in 1859, it still exists today and is one of Britain's most prestigious brands. In addition to Royal Warrants, Mappin and Webb are the Crown Jeweller.

A Danish silver Skonvirke (Arts & Crafts) pastry or cake server, made by the respected Danish silversmith Evald Nielsen in 1925. The server is the No 4 pattern, which has organic flowing scrolls in relief, so quite pleasing to hold. The server is hand hammered, with the planish marks visible on the blade and the stem. The blade is nicely shaped, and has a raised lip which increases away from the pointed tip, so very practical to use. The server is 830 grade silver, as is usual for Danish silver. The well struck hallmarks include "Evald Nielsen" in an attractive script, with "No 4" indicating pattern, date letter "ANNO 1925", the letter "S" surrounded by dots in shaped punch for silver, and "830" in oval punch surrounded by dots for grade of silver. Evald Nielsen worked between 1905 and 1958 from Copenhagen, he designed all his own designs (as opposed to his contemporary Georg Jensen). He won numerous awards internationally, and his silver can be seen in numerous museums, including the Metropolitan in New York...

A fabulous Royal silver souvenir spoon, of outstanding quality, commemorating the investiture of the Prince of Wales (now King Charles III) in Caernarvon, Wales in 1969. The spoon has a cast silver Welsh dragon holding a Royal shield, the dragon's tail curls around the spoon stem and forms a "rat-tail" on the spoon bowl, we love this spoon. The bowl has a cast silver Prince of Wales emblem, with 3 feathers above crown, above the motto "Ich Dien", translated "I serve". The back is engraved "Caernarvon 1969, 256", this was a limited edition and each spoon was numbered. The hallmarks are clear, with makers mark JDB for J.D. Beardsmore & Co, who only worked in 1969 and appear to have only produced this spoon. The Emblem inthe bowl, which is cast as a separate piece, is also hallmarked. The spoon was originally sold in a custom box with leaflet, the leaflet informs that the spoon was designed by Norman Manwaring, Herald Painter to the College of Arms, under the supervision of R.O. Dennys, OBE, FSA, Herald of Arms,...

A lovely Georg Jensen sterling silver cream ladle in the Blossom No 84 pattern, with London import marks for 1931. The ladle is well designed, with a kink in the handle below the flower blossom, which greatly improves the grip and allows for precise pouring. The bowl is planished (hand hammered), and the 2 pouring lips work well. The Blossom pattern No. 84 (Magnolie in Danish), sometimes called Magnolia in the USA, was designed by Jensen himself and introduced in 1919, is "a sculptural design which features a realistic stem and blossom design that appears to grow from the handle. This pattern, perhaps more than any other, demonstrates the sculptural quality that earned Jensen widespread acclaim". - Georg Jensen, A Tradition of Splendid Silver, Janet Drucker, page 267 - a book we highly recommend. The ladle is clearly hallmarked, makers mark GJ with 925 S in beaded circle, above "Denmark Sterling", below pattern number "84". The ladle also has clear London hallmarks, with GS for George Stockwell & Co, who impo...

A lovely set of Georg Jensen Beaded pattern mocha spoons (6), perfectly preserved in their original box. The spoons are small and dainty, but exude the quality you expect from Jensen. The original silk lined box reads "Georg Jensen, Silversmith, 15a New Bond St, London W.I, Member of the Salon Paris". The beaded pattern (Kugle in Danish, Jensen pattern # 7) has a beaded pattern around the lower edge of the handle, it was designed by Jensen himself in 1916, described as "an elegant composition, that remains contemporary in design while imparting a timeless quality" - Georg Jensen, Tradition of Splendid Silver, page 267. All 6 spoons are clearly hallmarked with Danish marks GJ in circular bead with 925 standard mark, and English import marks for 1925, with importers mark GS for George Stockwell & Co, (imported Jensen silver between 1909 and 1931).

A World War 1 Royal Artillery 15 carat gold and enamel sweetheart regimental bar brooch, clearly hallmarked 15 CT for 15 Carat gold, both the badge and the bar. The detail is lovely, red enamel crown above blue enamel "UBIQUE" (Everywhere), above a gold cannon, above blue enamel motto "QUO FAS ET GLORIA DUCUNT" (Wherever right and glory lead). The bar, pin and clasp are also 15 carat gold, the clasp has a clever locking mechanism to prevent loss, this was an expensive quality item when originally purchased. 15 Carat gold was discontinued by Britain in 1932, hence we can date this brooch to the Great War. The Royal Artillery, commonly referred to as "The Gunners", was formed in 1799, and comprises of 13 regular army regiments today.

A beautiful pair of miniature antique silver pastry servers, well preserved in their original box, made by the prestigious firm of Asprey. The servers are in the Kings Husk pattern, single struck, this is a variant of the Kings pattern without the central honeysuckle decoration, and a husk shell. Both servers are a similar size and shape, one had a flat spade shape blade and the other has a serrated prong front, so quite versatile. The hallmarks on both are very clear, including makers mark CA.GA for Charles & George Asprey, they used this mark between 1892 and 1909. Both servers are also hallmarked "Asprey London", this is very clear. The silk lined leather box reads "Asprey 186 Bond St London". Asprey was founded in 1781, and still operates today with a reputation as one of the world's leading luxury brands, they still trade from Bond Street. They hold numerous Royal warrants, at the time these servers were made they had a warrant from King Edward VII. Note: We have a similar pair, S 1952, but made in 1906...

A rare and interesting American sterling silver souvenir spoon, with gilded detail, retailed in Nome, Alaska during the Nome Gold Rush of 1899-1909. The spoon has beautiful detail, and is excellent quality and condition. The bowl reads "Nome, Alaska, Struck It Rich" and has a gilded prospector panning gold in a stream below a waterfall, gilded elements on American silver souvenir spoons are rare. The handle has a rising sun above NOME, with pan, shovel and pick below, above a canoe with 4 hunters, 2 paddling, one with bow and arrow, and a 4th with harpoon, all wearing furs. The back features a miner tipping pay into a sluice box, above a paddle, bow and arrows and harpoon. The spoon is clearly hallmarked, retailers mark L.W. Suter, makers mark empressed Fleur de Lis in raised triangle for Mayer Brothers of Seattle, Washington, and raised Sterling. Louis Suter was a jeweller and retailer who arrived in Nome in 1900, he prospered and built the leading Jeweller in Nome, with the largest selection of stock in Ala...

A collection of 6 silver South African Military wrist identification tags (dog tags) dating back to World War II, and specifically the campaign in Egypt. They are all wrist identification tags, as 5 still have their original silver wrist chains, we are not sure if they were military issue or if they were purchased privately (we suspect the latter as they all have different designs) We believe them all to be sterling silver, 4 are clearly hallmarked with Egyptian hallmarks, the cat standard mark, and Arabic town marks and date letters (Cairo and date letter I for 1940 are present, amongst others). The 5th is hallmarked "Sterg" for sterling and makers mark HA&S (possibly Henry Allday & Son of Birmingham), and the 6th has a partial mark "ling" which we suspect was Sterling. The 6 tags are as follows: 1- "Maj. D. Macdonald Pres Cameron Highlanders" - with HA&S mark, fob chain, end loop missing. 2- "Lt W.T. Arthur Pres 193790", with ling hallmark, fob chain, end loop missing, solder repairs. 3- "SPR E. Gillespie N...

A South African Medical Corps WW II gold sweetheart brooch, mounted on a bar brooch, the bar with scroll engraving on either side. The badge itself is a red tinged gold, the bar is yellow gold The badge features the rod of Aesculapius with a serpent entwined round it, head uppermost and looking left, all within a laurel wreath, under a Royal crown, the same badge as used by the Royal Medical Corps. The Scroll below reads "S.A.M.C / S.A.G.D.", translated in Afrikaans the Suid Afrikaanse Geneeskunige Diens. The brooch is clearly hallmarked 9CT for 9 carat gold.

A sterling silver circular salver in the Art deco style, with 6 panels of incurved decoration (3 parallel lines on the exterior), and 3 silver button feet. The salver has a raised border, slightly wavy, overall the decoration is quite understated, but makes a big impact. The salver is a superb weight and quality, unlike many light and flimsy copies made at this time. This excellent quality is what we have come to expect from the Barnard's, who are the oldest manufacturing silversmiths in existance, the business being founded in 1773 (Culme, Gold and Silversmiths, pg 29). The hallmarks are very clear, as good as they get, with excellent detail. An almost identical salver, also by Barnards in 1937, but with ivory bun feet, can be seen on the AC Silver website (www.acsilver.co.uk).

An antique silver and enamel vesta case, with the coat of arms of Kirkwall, Orkney Islands. The vesta is rectangular with rounded corners, and has a safety suspension ring. The applied cast coat of arms has red, blue and yellow enamel, and features a three masted sailing ship with sails furled, above KIRKWALL and below motto "Si Deus Nobiscum", translated "If God be for us" from Romans 8:31. The hallmarks are clear, including makers mark R.C. for Robert Chandler, who worked between 1902 and 1924. Kirkwall is the capital of the Scottish Orkney Islands, the original Kirk was the 11th century St Olaf's of Norway. Kirkwall is also the home of Highland Park whisky, so is on my list of places I would like to visit.

A fabulous pair of antique silver tea knives (or butter knives), made in Sheffield but retailed in Oban, Scotland by R Drummond & Son. The knives have green hardstone handles, beautifully shaped, we guess Scottish green agate. The blades are nicely shaped and engraved, the hallmarks (which are excellent on both knives) are camoflagued in the engraving. The blades are blunt, so made for spreading, not for cutting, in the days everyone had their own knife for tea. The backs of both blades are clearly punched "R Drummond & Son, Oban", so we know they were retailed from their jewellery store in Queens Park, Oban. They also had a store in Stirling which traded between 1865 and 1904. Their advert has survived, and reads "Goldsmiths, Watchmakers and Opticians". Levesley Brothers worked between 1897 and 1916. The set is perfectly preserved in its original box.

A set of 6 Georg Jensen sterling silver coffee or demitasse spoons, in the Akkeleje # 77 pattern. The design is repeated on the back and the front, the Akkeleje can be translated as the Columbine flower, these are attractive, dainty spoons. The pattern was introduced in 1918, and was designed by Georg Jensen himself. All 6 spoons are clearly hallmarked with Danish hallmarks, including makers mark GJ above "STERLING DENMARK", they also have London import marks and 925 sterling marks for 1934 and 1935 (4 are 1934, 2 are 1935), along with makers mark G.J Ld, used by Jensen between 1931 and 1967 for items imported to their store in New Bond Street, London.

A set of 6 sterling silver Arts & Crafts teaspoons, made by Kurt Jobst circa 1950. The spoons have spiral design finials, which were described by Nadine Gordimer as "chamelon tail spoons", source the book "Kurst Jobst, Goldsmith, Silversmith, Art Metal Worker", 1979, page 46, a book we highly recommend. The spoons also have round bowls and hand hammered "square" handles, they are a pleasure to hold and use. They are great quality, each individually made by hand by a master craftsman. The same book depicts these spoons in 3 different sizes (page 40), the smallest probably for salt, the medium teaspoons and the largest probably for condiments (these spoons are the medium size). All 6 spoons have clear hallmarks, and include his trademark "unicorn" KJ mark, along with "Jobst, Sterling and .925" marks. Jobst was born in Austria in 1905, he served his apprenticeship in Hanau, Germany, his influence was the Bauhaus movement. He emigrated with his family in 1936 from Austria to South Africa to escape Hitler, and be...

A collection of 10 sterling silver and enamel souvenir spoons, all from Scottish towns. Eight of the spoons have enamel finials, one has additional enamel bowl, two are silver only. The spoons were made in Birmingham, London and Edinburgh, and two were imported from Europe. The dates range from 1900 to 1955. All 10 spoons have clear hallmarks. The 10 include: 1. Kilmarnock, Birmingham 1946, L Bros, Confide Virtute et Industria 2. Glasgow, Birmingham 1955, Barker Brothers 3. Edinburgh, London 1902, Saunders & Shepherd, Nisi Dominus Frustra, imported F mark 4. Glasgow, Birmingham 1926, Levi & Salaman, Let Glasgow Flourish, Cathedral in gilded bowl 5. Edinburgh, Birmingham 1900, Levi & Salaman, Nisi Dominus Frustra 6. Glasgow, Birmingham 1911, Joseph Cook & Sons, Exhibition 1911 7. Girvan, Birmingham 1902, William Henry Leather, Sigillum Burgi de Girvan 8. Dumfries, London circa 1900, imported F mark, Enamel bowl with High Street, Dumfries 9. Edinburgh, Birmingham 1926, Levi & Salaman, Nisi Dominus Fru...

A private die silver dessert spoon featuring a King Protea, South Africa's national flower. The pattern is single struck, and contains a well modelled King Protea on the end of the spoon, the stem is decorated with a triple ribbed pattern with bands, ending in a diamond shape at the spoon bowl. We imagine this is a rare pattern, probably a special commission for a South African event or for a family with South African ties (all suggestions welcome). The hallmarks are clear, and include makers mark R.C for William Comyns & Sons, a firm that dates back to 1856, and still exists today. They are an important firm, their archive contains over 30 thousand patterns (in the V&A), they made all the coronets for the Queen's coronation. The spoon also has an additional hallmark in a very strange place, at the back of the spoon where the stem joins the bowl, this mark is circular and contains 3 C's in a pattern, we have now established the 3 back to back C's is a trademark used exclusively by William Comyns & Sons (Culme...

An interesting set of 6 Fancy back or Picture back sterling silver teaspoons, these are replicas or Georgian silver originals circa 1750 to 1770. Each spoon has a different die stamped bowl decoration, these 6 spoons are replicas of some of the rarest designs. They include: 1. Fleur de Lys, a stylised French lily used in heraldry. 2. Milkmaid in period garb, with yoke and 2 pails. 3. Fox and crop, with fox head above 2 crossed riding crops. 4. Stag, with antlers, running across grass. 5. Birdcage with bird on top under "I LOVE LIBERTY", commemorating the release of John Wilkes from unjust imprisonment. 6. Urn of flowers, with a Georgian garden urn filled with flowers. All 6 pictures are well struck in perfect condition, with no wear. All 6 spoons are also clearly hallmarked. The set comes with original leaflet entitled "Reproductions of Georgian Sterling Silver Teaspoons", with explanatory notes and explanation of hallmarks.