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...

9 carat gold, beautifully cast and chased in the form of a clam shell. Beautiful hinge.

A Scottish provincial silver basting (or gravy) spoon in the Fiddle pattern, made by Alexander Cameron in Dundee, with Edinburgh hallmarks for 1824. The spoon is good quality and has a good feel, it is suitable for use as a serving spoon. The hallmarks are excellent, and include the "CAM over ERON" and "DUN over DEE" marks used by Cameron, along with very clear Edinburgh marks. Cameron was apprenticed to Robert Keay of Perth, and worked between 1818 and 1849. Following the re-imposition of duties in Great Britian in 1784, a duty mark had to be struck on silver, which in Scotland could only be done in Edinburgh. This meant that the provincial silversmiths had to submit their silver to Edinburgh - often a long arduous journey, so few did. By the 1820's when this spoon was made, provincial silversmiths such as Cameron submitted a portion of their silver to Edinburgh, to satisfy the authorities.

Design registered by the retailer Thornhill of New Bond Street on 21 June 1870. The bugle carries the registry mark, Thornhill engraving and full hallmarks for Sampson Mordan, London 1874. Has hanging chain and screw stopper on separate chain, both original. The perfume bottle cap is also hallmarked, and has the original cork stopper, in excellent condition. It is a screw cap which fits snugly and closes perfectly.

A pair of Cape silver sugar tongs, in the Fiddle pattern, with original engraved initials IB. The hallmarks are very clear, and include makers mark FW and the Cape stub, comprising of 4 pseudo hallmarks (lion passant facing right, date letter A, Georgian duty mark and leopards head town mark). Cape silver sugar tongs are rarely encountered.

A nine carat gold fishing rod and reel brooch, with a cast silver and enamel rainbow trout jumping over the rod. The fish has lovely detail, and the colours are realistic, the enamel work perfect, with no damage. The rod is segmented, overall this is a lovely brooch. The rod is hallmarked 9CT for 9 carat gold in 2 places, and also makers mark A&W, the fish is stamped SILVER. The box is also good quality, leather and silk, and reads "Terry & Co, Goldsmiths & Silversmiths, Corner of Cross St & King St, Manchester. We have traced an advert of theirs to 1967.

An Arts & Crafts silver sauce boat, with planished (hand hammered) body and a beautiful curvi-linear bi-furcating handle. The sauce boat has 3 feet, and is the traditional shape with a deep lip, very suitable for pouring. The hand hammered body and handle picks up the light, this is a lovely item. The handle is Art Nouveau in shape and style. The hallmarks are very well struck and clear, including makers mark G.U for George Unite & Sons, the business was founded in 1825 by George Unite, who apprenticed with Joseph Willmore, it still trades today.

An early antique silver vesta case, with an applied cast golfer in full swing. The vesta is rectangular, with applied strike plate on the bottom of the vesta, the hinge lid has a suspension loop for adding to a chain. Dated 1886 this is an early vesta case, most vestas date between 1890 and 1920. The hallmarks are clear, and include makers mark WG/JL (William Gibson & John Lawrence Langman) of Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Co of Regent Street, a very prestigious firm founded in 1882, now the designated house of Crown Jewellers Garrards, following amalgamation in 1952 (both part of Sears via Mappin & Webb). John Langman was an interesting personality, he equipped and maintained the Langham Field Hospital during the Boer War (Culme, Directory of Gold and Silversmiths, page 184).

A truly stunning Nathaniel Mills gilt vinaigrette, slightly larger than average. The box is gilt with scrolling foliate decoration, and has the initials JL engraved on the lid. The grille is beautiful, with intricate flowers and scrolling vegetation. The inscription is engraved on an inserted plate (which covers the date stamp) and reads "Presented to Dr Lamprey as a token of gratitude for his kind and unremitting attention to the Rev.d Dr Fraill during his last illness 21 April 1847".

A rare pair of Cape Silver sugartongs, in the Kings pattern with diamond heel. They are very good gauge, solid and well made with a strong bow, suitable for use. Whilst Cape sugartongs are known, most are plain (Welz, Cape Silver), this is the only example of Cape sugartongs in the Kings pattern we have ever encountered. The hallmarks are very clear, makers mark FW and the "Cape Stub", 4 pseudo - English hallmarks (lion passant, date letter, duty mark and leopard's head) struck mechanically in a fly press (see article on Cape Stub in "The Finial, 2007, and in the articles tab above). Fredik Waldek was also a chronometer, clock maker and jeweller. Heller (History of Cape Silver) commended Waldek for "excellent workmanship", these tongs are no exception. Only Waldek and Twentyman produced Kings pattern in the Cape.

A set of 6 sterling silver grapefruit spoons in the Kings pattern, double struck, in excellent condition, they appear unused. The spoons are very good quality and weight, over 30 grammes each, and the hallmarks are excellent on all 6 spoons. Cooper Brothers was established in 1866, they were successful manufacturers, eventually being sold in 1983. The original box has a label that reads "Bracher & Sydenham, Queen Victoria Street, Reading, est 1790", the firm has a long and illustrious history, and still operates today after being acquired by Goldsmiths chain in 1974. They received a Royal warrant from King Edward VII, who visited the shop personally. Note - 5 spoons are 1966, one is 1965, so made over the date letter change.

An interesting early Georgian Irish Hanoverian tablespoon, made by Alexander Richards in Dublin 1764. The spoon has a frontal rib, strong turn-up and a very narrow oval bowl. It is engraved with a Griffin crest on the back of the spoon, showing this spoon was placed on the table bowl down. The spoon is bottom marked, the date letter is very clear, but the makers mark , crowned harp and Hibernia are are worn, but still discernable. Alexander Richards, a noted Irish spoonmaker, worked between 1724 and 1768 (Bennett, Irish Silver, pg 152).

An unusual pair of Fiddle pattern silver sugar tongs, with crude rounded shell grips. The pair is unusually large and heavy, and has flared and shaped arms, and a strong rounded bow. They are quite plain, with no monograms or decoration, besides the shape and shell grips. They are unusual, very unlike any of the sugartongs depicted in "Georgian Silver Sugar Tongs" by Graham Hodges, leading us to believe they are Colonial or Provincial. The only hallmarks are makers mark TH struck twice (once on each arm), the hallmarks are clear. The T is well cut, but the H is fat and less well defined in the punch. There appears to be a faint device between the letters, but this could be an imperfection in the punch. We have been unable to identify any Colonial makers with initials TH (but suggestions welcome!). However, one possible candidate for the TH makers mark is Theophilus Harvey of Clonmel, Tipperary, Ireland, circa 1810. A fish server by Harvey, with only the TH makers mark in rectangular punch, is pictured in an a...

A set of 12 identical sterling silver golf trophy spoons, all with identical engraving of BIGC in Gothic script (or IBGC) for a golf club. The spoons are great quality, with cast handles featuring golf clubs and balls, the club handles are also textured. The spoons are all in excellent condition, they do not appear to have been used, and have no engraving on the bowls. They are contained in a box which looks like it was custom made for the set, with purple velvet. All 12 spoons have very clear hallmarks, 9 were made by Robert Chandler (dates 1907-1910), and 3 were made by William James Dingley (2 are 1912, one later at 1925). We assume these were trophy spoons, won over the years by a golfer, who decided to safeguard them with a custom made box.

An unusual Edwardian antique silver sauce or gravy boat, in Modernist style, at first glance it looks out of style with it's age. The sauce boat is a beautiful shape, tear drop with long elegant spout (pours very well), and 3 horn shaped legs, and a very stylish handle, with angular top and curved base. The handle works well, practical as well as stunning, the angular top fits well with the thumb for easy pouring. This design would have been leading edge when it was produced. The hallmarks are excellent, very clearly struck, so there can be no doubt about the age. Lee and Wigfull worked between 1871 and 1969, Henry Wigfull was the driver of the business, he employed over 100 people in 1880, and won awards at the Melbourne International Exhibition of 1881.

An interesting antique cast silver wine label, pierced for SHERRY, made by the Barnard family of silversmiths. This design is called the "Five Barred Gate", the 5 bars are surrounded by grapes, vines and tendrils. This label is of particular interest as it is upside-down, the central vine leaf is usually on top, here it is underneath. The label is quite balanced so it is not easy to see it is upside-down, so an easy mistake for the engraver who did the piercing and applied the chain to make. The five barred gate design was first produced circa 1820 by Emes & Barnard, it remained popular for 30 years, and was copied by a number of other silversmiths, including Reily & Storer (Wine Labels 1730-2003, page 35, Fig 37, where a Port label is displayed the correct way up, also page 156, F Champagne). A number of other examples, all the correct way up, can be seen on the Steppes Hill website (www.steppeshillfarmantiques.com), all by the Barnards, dating between 1823 and 1830. Another version of this label is depicted...

A 9 carat gold and green enamel sweetheart brooch, for the Irish regiment the Royal Ulster Rifles. The brooch has the regimental crest of Irish winged harp below Royal crown, and motto " Quis Separabit" (Who shall separate us). It also has a shamrock and hunting horn below the harp, the detail is lovely, this is a very good quality brooch. It is mounted on original gold brooch safety pin, which is in perfect working order. It is stamped with 9CT indicating it is 9 carat gold. The original leather box with gold trim is also lovely and well preserved, even the silk lining is still good. It is marked "W.P. Lewis & Co, Goldsmiths, Successors to Pim Bros Ltd, 19 Exchequer St, Dublin", the original retailer. The Royal Ulster Rifles also served in the Anglo Boer War, so this brooch could be older than our World War 1 date, as sweetheart brooches were also popular then. As this is a high quality gold brooch, it probably would have been presented by an officer. The Royal Ulster Rifles have won 7 Victoria Crosses, 4 in...

A lovely pair of collectable Sampson Mordan silver owls, for use as place or menu holders. The owls have lovely detail, and the hallmarks are very clear on both. Each owl is lovely quality, as is usual for Mordan items. Each owl has 2 original amber glass eyes, each with a small and large pupil. Sampson Mordan became famous for producing high quality, innovative novelty items, which enjoyed wide appeal. The firm existed between 1823 and 1941.

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...