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.
A Chinese export silver tablespoon by Sunshing, with excellent hallmarks, they could not be better. The hallmarks include makers mark SS, both of the S's are very distinctive with a t junction at the end of the letter. Hallmarks also include English pseudo marks including lion passant (with fringes on the head), crowned leopard's head townmark, date letter C and duty mark.
A beautiful and very good quality antique silver spoon, commemorating the Diamond Jubilee (60 years on the throne) of Queen Victoria in 1897. The spoon has the Royal Coat of Arms and motto "Dieu et Mon Droit", a medallion bust of Queen Victoria, a Scottish thistle, VR for "Victoria Reigns", and the dates 1837-1897. The spoon is a pleasing weight and quality, this would have been an expensive souvenir in its day. The hallmarks are good, and include makers mark WG over JL, for William Gibson and John Langman. Gibson & Langman, originally from Belfast, Ireland, founded the famous Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Co Ltd in 1880, which was amalgamated into Garrards in 1952. They used the WG/JL mark until 1898, when they switched to the more familiar G&S Co Ltd mark. John Langman equipped and maintained the Langman field hospital during the Boer War, he was created Baronet in 1906. A matching silver fork to this spoon was sold as Lot 38 in the postal auction of the Silver spoon club of Great Britain, March 2012, The Finia...
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.
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. Note - we have a very similar pair, just larger in size, S 11273. 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 business Lacy-Hulbert & Co was founded by Denis and Cyril's father Charles in 1903, they were pneumatic enginee...
An Arts and Crafts sterling silver butter knife, made by the little known silversmith Denis Lacy-Hulbert. The knife has the traditionally shaped blade, for spreading, not cutting, and a flat rectangular stem which is planished (hand hammered, the blade is also planished), 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. 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 business Lac...
A sterling silver brooch of a Protea, a popular South African flowering plant found in fynbos areas, sometimes called sugarbush. The brooch is good quality, and is clearly hallmarked "CANDIDA" and "STER SILV". Candida is a brand name used by South African jeweller and silversmith Joe Calafato between 1947 and 1972, but with the addition of the ster silv mark we can date this piece to between 1947 and 1951. Calafato has been described as the "South African King of Silver" (source ASCAS website), he worked until 1984. He was born in Mozambique of Sicilian parents in 1912, and worked from Pretoria, South Africa. He is known for his African themes.
A Cape silver salt spoon, in the Fiddle pattern, with original gilded bowl. The original gilding is a light lemon colour, worn and scratched from use, but still clearly visible and quite charming. The hallmarks are clear, and include makers mark PD for Peter Clarke Daniel, alongside pseudo hallmarks date letter B in indented punch, date letter a and Georgian duty mark (Welz mark 41, page 148, Cape Silver). The presence of 2 different pseudo date letters is unusual, it appears Daniel was the only Cape silversmith who did this, perhaps he lacked understanding of the English hallmarking system. An original owners cross hatch scratch mark is also visible below makers mark, this is small and does not detract. Peter Clarke Daniel was born in Dublin, he arrived in the Cape with the 1820 settlers as a child.
A set of four French liqueur sterling silver wine labels, for Benedictine, Chartreuse, Cointreau and Grand Marnier. The labels are rectangular with canted corners, the engraved names have been filled with black enamel, and the fronts have a matt finish. The labels are bordered with a zig-zag pattern, which has been engraved by hand, as it does not go all the way around the Grand Marnier and Chartreuse label, as the lettering does not leave sufficient size. The labels are attached to silver chains with eyelets. All 4 labels are clearly marked with makers mark W.J.W, and "Sterling Silver", we have not been able to identify the maker (all suggestions welcome, thanks). We believe the labels could be American from their style and hallmarks, but are open to correction, thanks. This is an interesting set, we have not seen a set specifically of French liqueurs before. Benedictine is a herbal liqueur, an interesting fact is that the Burnley miners club in Lancashire are big consumers (thanks to Lancashire regiments di...
A Chinese Export (or China Trade silver) silver tablespoon, with excellent pseudo hallmarks. The spoon is Fiddle pattern, and has an attractive and well engraved family crest, a Lion's head erased, which is contemporary. The hallmarks include pseudo sterling lion, pseudo crowned leopard's head, date letter "C', and pseudo Georgian duty mark. We have tentatively ascribed these marks to Cutshing, we would welcome other opinions. These marks are typical of the pseudo English marks deliberately created by Chinese silversmiths, for the export market. Cutshing are "widely recognised as producing some of the finest silver from the early China Trade period (1785-1840)" - www.chinese-export-silver.com, article on Cutshing.
A Georgian silver wine label, engraved "Madeira", by Daniel Hockly. The label is rectangular with a reeded border, and has its original chain. It is fully hallmarked, the hallmakrs are clear. Hockly emigrated to the Cape Colony as part of the 1820 Settlers, where he continued working as a silversmith, also using a DH makers mark. Hockly is mentioned as one of 5 wine label makers worthy of mention for the quality of their product amongst the new generation of specialists (Wine Labels, 1730-2003, pg 154)
An original antique silver Wembley badge, depicting the Wembley lion in silver set in tortoiseshell, with silver rim. Wembley, "The home of Legends", is amongst the most famous football stadiums in the world. This badge would have been made to commemorate the opening of Wembley by King George V in 1924. The Wembley lion, designed by Herrick in Egyptian style, was the symbol of the British Empire Exhibition of 1924 - the "Lion of Industry". Collett & Anderson were known for producing silver and tortoiseshell badges and brooches. The hallmarks are clear.
A Scottish Provincial dessert spoon in the Fiddle pattern, made in Arbroath. The spoon is initialled with the letter C. The hallmarks include makers mark AD, crowned head * 2, portcullis. The makers mark AD is very clear, the portcullis is clear, the crowned heads are visible but have some wear, perhaps the punches were worn. Overall hallmarks are very good.
A set of 4 Continental (probably German or Dutch) silver teaspoons with realistically modeled Boer soldier finial, complete with beard, hat, bandolier and rifle. The spoons are 835 grade silver. The Boer finial rests on a plinth, above a 4 sided and twisted stem with traditional mask head above the join to the bowl. The spoons also have a short rat-tail. All 4 spoons are hallmarked "835" and makers mark "B2V".
A Chinese Export (or China Trade silver) tablefork, in the Fiddle, Thread and Shell pattern, with scarce Union shell (Pickford, Silver Flatware, pg 118). This is a large and hefty fork of good gauge and quality. The hallmarks are extremely clear, being pseudo - English hallmarks lion passant, dutymark, crowned leopards head, date letter k and makers mark CU for Cutshing of Old China Street, Canton. Cutshing was quite prolific, he used a number of makers marks, including CUT, and worked between 1825 and 1875. CU was used during his earlier period (www.chineseexportsilver.com). Chinese export silver, which is stylistically Anglo-American of the late Georgian period, is "known for its fine workmanship and exceptionally heavy weight (Kernan, China Trade Silver, Checklists for Collectors, November 1965).
A pair of Fiddle pattern Cape tableforks, with clear English Pseudo hallmarks, but no makers mark. As these marks were only used by Lawrence Twentyman, we can be certain of the maker.
Typical Cape konfyt fork in the Fiddle pattern, with an unknown makers mark, not recorded by Morrison, Heller or Welz. The mark is clear, JB between an unknown device, possibly a bird?
