A pretty boxed silver butter knife and jam spoon, with lovely terminal design, which has been cut out by hand. Both pieces are good quality and in excellent condition, they do not appear to have been used. The hallmarks are clear on both. This would make a lovely wedding present.
Art Deco sugartongs with a classic cast silver deco design on both arms. The tongs are well made, and feel heavy and solid to hold. The hallmarks are clear, and a facsimile Charles Boyton signature is also present. Boyton broke away from the family firm of Charles Boyton & Sons Ltd in 1934, setting up his own business emulating Omar Ramsden in the "decorative style". A number of pieces by Charles Boyton are featured in the book " A Personal Touch - The Seawolf Collection, late 19th and 20th century silver, pages 126-130", published by Museum Boijmans van Beuningen Rotterdam (which we highly recommend). He opposed the industrial methods of the family firm, and established a craft workshop, where hand made objects were engraved with his signature. He was inspired by Georg Jensen and Jean Puiforcat.
A lovely set of replica laceback rattail trefid spoons, decorated in traditional style, both on the front of the stems and the back of the bowls. The rattail is ribbed, the scrolls are elaborate, and the terminals have the traditional notched pattern. These spoons are Brittania standard (950 grade vs. 925 of sterling), as is often the case with early 20th century replica silver. These spoons are very good quality, and the hallmarks are very clear on all 6 spoons.
An interesting 17th century style silver notched 2 pronged fork, a replica of the earliest known English table fork. The fork has 3 notches at the top of the stem, a rare feature seen occasionally on puritan spoons. it also has 2 family crests, the top a griffiths head and wings, the Montagu family crest, the second is a peacock in pride, the crest of John Manners, 8th Earl of Rutland of Haddon Hall, the owner of the original fork. The original, made in 1632, is known as the Manners Fork, and is in the V&A museum in London. This fork is a good gauge, very pleasing to use, we tested it on cold meats and olives! The hallmarks are excellent, and include the optional Jubilee mark, used in 1934 and 1935. A real talking point for your dinner table. Note: - we now have another example of this fork, S 1808, in original box.
An interesting armorial silver spoon, with armorial of Robert Burns, who is widely regarded as the National Poet of Scotland, also "Scotland's Favourite Son", also voted "Greatest Scot of all Time" (Wikipedia). Burns night is celebrated on 25 January, with haggis on the menu, and the singing of "Auld Lang Syne". The armorial features a seeded holly bush, under shepherds pipe and crook, with a woodlark perched on a sprig of bay tree, and "Wood Notes Wild" from Milton's Allegro. The bottom of the shield has the motto "Better a wee bush than nae bield" (a small bush is better than no shelter at all), which Burns used to seal his letters.
An interesting 17th century style silver notched 2 pronged fork, a replica of the earliest known English table fork. The fork has 3 notches at the top of the stem, a rare feature seen occasionally on puritan spoons. The original, made in 1632, is known as the Manners Fork, and is in the V&A museum in London. The original belonged to the Rutland family of Haddon Hall, and has the crest of John Manners, 8th Earl of Rutland. This fork is a good gauge, very pleasing to use, we tested it on cold meats and olives! The hallmarks are excellent, and include makers mark FH for Francis Howard, the firm worked between 1900 and 1986. A real talking point for your dinner table. Note: - we now have another example of this fork, S 1808, also in original box
A silver figure depicting "The Trusty Servant" of Winchester College, one of the oldest and most prestigious of English public schools. The figure is well engraved, with lovely detail. A picture of the Trusty Servant hangs in the kitchen of Winchester College. The figure is dressed in Windsor uniform and wig, and has a pigs head, donkey ears, padlocked jaw, deers feet, sword and collection of household implements. These refer to "desirable attributes of a servant", padlocked jaw (to keep secrets), stags feet (swift errands), household implements (to work hard) and sword (to protect master). We are not sure what the figure was intended for (it has no stand or attachments), but is probably intended as a bookmark, or could be added to a trophy or adapted as menu holder.
Lovely set of Art Deco cakeforks, of good quality and gauge, suitable for everyday use. The town, sterling and date marks are clear on all forks, the makers mark is poorly struck and only faintly visible, but still identifiable as Lanson Ltd, who used this mark between 1933 and 1961.
A silver bowl bearing the crest of The Kings Royal Rifle Corps, complete with motto "Celer et Audax" (Swift and Bold). The bowl (or possibly ashtray, although we cannot imagine putting ash into such a lovely bowl) is well made, in Arts and Crafts style with hand hammered marks giving lovely texture. The crest is detailed, and has the initials EMV of the silversmith. The date 1914 is significant, being the start of the "Great War", now known as World War I, so was probably made to commemorate the departure of the Corps to the Western Front. The Corps, known today as the "Green Jackets", was expanded to 22 battalions during the war. As riflemen, they were in the thick of trench warfare, and earned 8 Victoria Crosses, but paid the price with the loss of 12824 men.
An interesting sterling silver replica of a Charles II trifid or lace back spoon, circa 1680. The stem is notched and decorated in traditional style, as is the back of the bowl, complete with rat-tail. The spoon is teaspoon sized, and very good quality, quite heavy to hold. The spoon is in it's original Mappin & Webb box, complete with Royal appointments to the Queen and Prince of Wales on the lid interior. The spoon also has it's original card, describing the origin of the spoon, it's decoration and an explanation of the hallmarks, making it an ideal Christening present.
A magnificent dessert sized spoon with the Goddess Nike standing on a pedestal with the initials "JERC", in script initials. Nike is the Greek winged Goddess of victory, strength and speed, she appears on the back of every Olympic medal. The detail of the Nike casting is excellent, this is a spoon of exceptional quality, as you would expect from Garrard. The hallmarks are very clear. The firm of R&S Garrard & Co (Garrard's), which began life in 1722 and still exists today, is famed for it's exceptional silver of very good quality. Garrard's were Crown Jewellers for much of their history, they lost the Royal warrant in 2007. Re the script initials, we assume they belong to a sports club, perhaps a rowing or rugby club? - we would welcome opinion's or corrections.
A rare Liberty Cymric toothbrush, with silver handle set with two turquoise cabochons, and wooden (ebony) toothbrush set with bristles. The hallmarks are clear, including L&Co makers mark, but the CYMRIC mark is not present (as is usual on small items). This toothbrush matches the Liberty Cymric vanity set (S1360).
A pair of Arts and Crafts sterling silver condiment spoons, made by the little known silversmith Denis Lacy-Hulbert. The spoons have oval shallow bowls, and flat rectangular stems which are planished (hand hammered), very similar in style to Puritan spoons. The hallmarks form part of the decoration, proudly struck on the front of the stems, evenly spaced, these are very clear, and include makers mark D L-H and the optional Silver Jubilee mark used in 1977 to celebrate 25 years on the throne for Queen Elizabeth II. Note - we have a very similar pair, just smaller in size, S 11274. Denis (Ben) Lacy-Hulbert (1911-2005) was Managing Director of a family steel tube/ cylinder manufacturing business, silversmithing was a hobby, very few items are recorded by him. Denis also made antique replica items in 18 carat gold, notably a strawberry dish and tumber cups. Denis Lacy-Hulbert registered his mark in 1953, but most surviving work appears to be between 1972 and 1983, he was based in Chesterfield, Darbyshire. The b...
A set of 6 teaspoons and matching jamspoon in original box, designed to commemorate the inauguration of the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria on 16 December 1949. The front of the spoons have the Boer oxwagon wheel and powder horns, along with the Zulu shield and assegaai (spear). The rear has an outline of the Voortrekker Monument, with inscription "1949 SVK UWB". These spoons are good quality, with cast design. SVK stands for Sentrale Volksmonumente Komitee (Central Peoples Monument Committee) which was formed in 1931, with the aim to build a monument to honour the Voortrekkers (Pioneers) who left the Cape Colony in 1835. The spoons were sold to assist raising funds for the building of the monument, which cost GBP 350000. The hallmarks are clear on all spoons. The spoons were designed by the famous South African artist W.H. Coetzer, the original design is in MuseumAfrika in Johannesburg, and depicted in " Catalogue of Pictures in the Africana Museum", vol 6, pg 157, C1113. Willem Hermanus Coetzer also design...
A beautiful antique French silver 4 piece Hors-Doeuvre serving set, consisting of butter or pate knife, pierced spoon, serving fork and pastry trowel, perfectly preserved in their original box. Both the implements and the handles are 950 grade silver, so higher grade than sterling (925). The matching handles are very ornate in Neoclassical style, the detailed design od architectural elements, scrolls and foliage is raised, so provides extra grip, the detail is superb. Both the spoon and the trowel are finely pierced, and all 4 implements are engraved with scrolls and foliage. All 4 items are hallmarked, both on the blades and the handles, with the French Minerva 1 for 950 grade silver, and diamond makers mark, most of which are poorly struck with only some partially visible, enough is present to see makers mark VH around glaziers diamond (un diamant de vitrier) for Vital Hygonnet, who worked in Paris between 1895 and 1928. Serving sets such as these were very fashionable in France around the turn of the 20th ...
An interesting set of good quality sterling silver teaspoons, with an unusual Art Deco stylised floral design. The design has 3 leaves on a long stem between 2 bars, with balls (berries?) above and below the bars, oval above and round below. The top of the spoons has an oval shield and pointed terminal, this is quite an elegant design. All 6 spoons have clear hallmarks on the back of the bowl, with makers mark O.W&S, we believe Owen Williams & Sons of Sheffield. Any information about this design would be most welcome.
A pair of antique sterling silver shoe buckles, made in Birmingham in 1912. The buckles are rectangular with canted corners, with a supporting centre strut for attachment to a shoe. Both buckles are clearly hallmarked, one makers mark has been over-stamped by the Levi & Salaman makers mark, so they were probably the retailers. Shoe buckles were fashion accessories for both men and women from the mid 17th century for the next few hundred years.
Attractive Art Deco cake forks of good gauge, these are solid and pleasant to hold, unlike many flimsier cakeforks we have seen. Hallmarks are very clear on all 6 forks.
A set of 6 silver and enamel teaspoons, with the badge of the Transvaal Scottish Regiment. The badge has a Scottish thistle surrounded by heraldic strap and buckle, over the "Star of the Order of the Thistle". The motto "Alba nam Buadh" (Well done, Scotland or Scotland, Home of the Virtues) is underneath the thistle. All 6 teaspoons are fully hallmarked. James Fenton worked from Great Hampton St, Birmingham between 1905 and 1954.
A Scottish silver clan badge, which can be worn as a pendant or as a brooch or kilt sash pin. The badge comprises a "Lions Head Effrontee" (looking forward) with the motto "I Bear in Mind". This is the crest and motto of the Campbell clan of Barbreck. The Campbells are one of the most powerful clans of Scotland, descendants of King Robert Bruce. The Campbells of Barbreck are from the Argyll district. The badge is very good quality, the lion is cast and has lovely detail, it stands out from the badge. It is a pleasing weight, and hangs well from a chain. The hallmarks are clear, and include makers mark RWF. The badge also has a silver plaque which reads " R.W. Forsyth Ltd, Edinburgh & Glasgow". R.W. Forsyth was a leading Scottish department store from 1897 until the 1980's.
