http://leopardantiques.com/ en-us Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:22:49 +0200 http://leopardantiques.com/object/stock/detail/477 A gorgeous Tiffany silver card case, with a very attractive and unusual fan shaped textured pattern, with dark and light bands radiating from the clasp. The surface is also textured, with lines and tiny hand hammered bumps radiating out in the same pattern. The hinge is spring loaded, and the clasp is a joy, superbly crafted with a satisfying click on closure. The interior is highly polished, giving a mirror like effect. The case is exceptional quality, clearly the work of a master craftsman. The origianl purpose of the case is unclear, it is too small for cigarettes (although it could hold the smaller hand made variety), it could also have been a compact. It is ideal for business cards, and could also accommodate photographs. The hallmarks are clear, "Tiffany & Co, 925 Sterling Italy", made during a time when Tiffany employed Italian craftsmen. With its wonderful quality, texture and pattern, this case is a joy to handle, you become reluctant to put it down! Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0200 http://leopardantiques.com/object/stock/detail/477 http://leopardantiques.com/object/stock/detail/460 A magnificent Hanau silver serving spoon, commemorating the 100 year anniversary of Frederick the Great (Frederick II of Prussia), whose nickname was "Der Alte Fritz" (Old Fritz). The handle of the spoon is a very detailed full length cast figure, with detail on both the back and front. Frederick is standing on a plinth with the dates "1740-1786", the dates he reigned, on top of the Imperial Prussian Eagle and Crown. The spoon bowl (also cast) is heart shaped, with decorative flowers and foliage. The spoon is excellent quality, suitable for display or use. Frederick, also Prince Elector of the Holy Roman Empire, modernised the Prussian army and won military acclaim, so much so that even Napoleon regarded him as one of the greatest tactical geniuses of his time. J.D. Schleissner & Sohne were Hanau's "pre-eminant producer of antique style silverware in the latter 19th century (www.925-1000.com), they exhibited at the 1893 Chicago and 1904 St Louis international expositions. The hallmarks are clear, and include bunch of grapes (Scheffler 479), pseudo assay scrape zig-zag, and R.C under crown (Scheffler 475). Sat, 27 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0200 http://leopardantiques.com/object/stock/detail/460 http://leopardantiques.com/object/stock/detail/447 An Arts and Crafts Swedish silver sugar bowl with lid, with circular hand hammered body on a raised circular foot, the lid with a ring finial. It is a simple but beautiful design, and is a very good weight and excellent quality. The hallmarks are very clear, having been protected by the raised foot. They include the Swedish State mark (3 crowns) and 830 silver standard (S in hexagon), Goteborg city mark (crowned G), date letter for 1962 (M9) and sponsors mark for Thore Eldh (SFS). Thore Eldh was a highly regarded Swedish designer who worked between 1935 and 1967. In addition to the hallmarks, the bowl is stamped "Cecilia" in script form, we assume a pattern name. Sat, 20 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0200 http://leopardantiques.com/object/stock/detail/447 http://leopardantiques.com/object/stock/detail/452 An antique silver cream or milk jug by perhaps the most famous of English goldsmiths, Paul Storr. The jug is Neo Classical (Adam) style, as is usual for much of Storr's early work, and is extremely good quality. The jug has a pyriform body, with a border of gadrooning dividing the lower and upper part. The spout is broad, and the handle has a scroll on the base. The interior is gilded, and the base is raised, which has protected the hallmarks. Penzer, in his book "Paul Storr", described Storr as "the last of the great goldsmiths". The hallmarks are excellent, the makers mark P.S is perfect in every way. It is Storr's 4th mark, P.S with pellat in centre, in twin circles in contact, with indent at base producing a point. The base also has the original scratch marks "5 14=171e", "2u320" and "-/XE", we assume weight, style and inventory marks. Storr worked between 1793 and 1838, he died in 1844. He served his apprenticeship with Andrew Fogelberg. Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0200 http://leopardantiques.com/object/stock/detail/452 http://leopardantiques.com/object/stock/detail/479 An important Royal silver brandy saucepan, which was given by Queen Victoria to her grandson Prince Christian Victor (Christle) of Schleswig-Holstein in 1868 as a christening present. The quality of the saucepan is excellent, it is the usual bulbous shape with a spout and turned ivory handle. It has a detachable domed lid, with a hinged projection for covering the spout, and an ivory and silver finial. The interior is gilt, it sits on a raised foot and has the traditional heart shaped join between body and handle. The saucepan and lid are both decorated with scrolling foliage and flowers, which is beautifully engraved. The lid fits snugly, the hinge is excellent, and the handle and finial are firmly secure. The saucepan is engraved "From his Grandmama Victoria R, 14 April 1868" on the front, the back has a scrolling foliate cartouche with the engraved initials "CV" below a coronet. The hallmarks are very clear, and are accompanied by the number 113 struck into the base (perhaps a pattern number?). The base also has the numbers "T11904" and "T11911" along with a scratch weight 21,,10 lightly scratched into it, these indicate weight and reference to the Barnard day-books, which have been preserved by the firm and which cover the period 1818 until the present (Culme, Directory Gold and Silversmiths, pg 29). The lid is also fully hallmarked, and the hinge flap, finial pin and wingnut are also hallmarked, a sign of true quality. During Victorian times the Barnards were the pre-eminant firm of English silversmiths, they produced many important pieces of high quality silver (Waldron, Price Guide to Antique Silver, pg 361). The firm, which still exists today, are the oldest manufacturing silversmiths in the world (Culme, gold and silversmiths, pg 29), they supplied many leading retailers, including Rundell, Bridge & Co, the Royal silversmiths, where the saucepan would have been purchased. Edward Barnard & Sons were also the manufacturers of the silver gilt baptismal font which was commissioned by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert for the christening of their first child. The order was placed through Rundell, Bridge & Co, and was executed in 1840/1841 (Culme, Nineteenth Century Silver, pg 84). His Highness Prince Christian Victor of Schleswig-Holstein (GCB GCVO), was born on 14 April 1867. He was the eldest son of Princess Helena, third daughter of Queen Victoria, and Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein. Queen Victoria gave his parents permission to marry on condition that they lived in England. He was known in the family as "Christle", and was reputably Queen Victoria's favourite grandson (source Wikipaedia). He was the first Royal to attend school (as opposed to private tutoring) and attended Wellington College, Magdalen College, Oxford and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He was a keen cricketer, he was captain of cricket at Magdalen and Sandhurst, and even played first class cricket (the only Royal to have done so). He embarked on a military career, joining the 60th Kings Royal Rifles, later the 4th Kings Royal Rifles. He served at Huraza and Mirzahai in 1891, and at Ashanti, Nile and Omdurman in 1898, where he was mentioned in dispatches for gallantry. He aslo served in the Boer War, he sailed for South Africa in 1899, hoping to join his regiment who were trapped in Ladysmith. He was appointed to the staff of General Hildyard (Commander 2nd Brigade) as Brigade Major, and was wounded in the Battle of Colenso in Natal. During this time Queen Victoria was following the progress of the Boer War with interest, she received regular correspondence from the generals and naturally her grandson Prince Christian Victor. He must have mentioned the extreme cold at Ladysmith, as Queen Victoria personally knitted 4 scarves, which she requested the Prince to distribute to "brave soldiers". The Prince selected 4 infantry battallions of the 2nd Brigade who had served with him in heavy fighting during the relief of Ladysmith (Queens, West Yorkshires, East Surreys and Devons), a soldier in each received a scarf. After recovering from his wounds, the Prince joined Lord Roberts as an ADC in Pretoria. Still weakened from his injuries, he contracted malaria, and then enteric fever, which killed him on 29 October 1900, at age 33. He is buried in Pretoria cemetery, the spot still marked today by an oak tree planted by his mother Princess Helena in September 1904. He is remembered by 2 memorials, the first a statue outside Windsor, the second a monument on Plymouth Hoe outside the Royal Citadel, which was unveiled in 1903 by General Sir Redvers Buller (sources wikipaedia and The Victorian Military Society, www.victorianmilitarysociety.org.uk). This saucepan was previously lot 238a of the Sotheby Parke Bernet South Africa auction, 25 September 1973. The catalogue referred to a book entitled "Christian Victor, The Story of a Young Soldier", by T. Herbert Warren, published in 1903 by John Murray. The original page from the Illustrated London News, dated November 3rd 1900, which contained a picture of Prince Christian Victor and his obituary, accompanies this item (see photo's). Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0200 http://leopardantiques.com/object/stock/detail/479 http://leopardantiques.com/object/stock/detail/448 A magnificent silver cigarette case, of exceptional quality, one of the finest we have seen. It is rectangular, and decorated with very finely engraved scrolling foliage on a stippled background, which is most attractive. The case has a gilt interior, and the original elastic bands. The case has a circular cartouche, decorated with the Hayes family crest, an attractive lion holding a standard with the motto "Renovate Animos", translated "Renew your Courage". The original owners name, "William Andrew Hayes" is engraved underneath the crest. The hallmarks are very clear, even the clasp knob is hallmarked, a sign of quality. Deakin & Francis, who still exist today after being founded in 1786, are known for their high quality small silverware. Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0200 http://leopardantiques.com/object/stock/detail/448 http://leopardantiques.com/object/stock/detail/468 An antique Essex crystal brooch, set in an attractive 18 carat gold setting with rope border. The brooch contains the burgee (yacht club pennant) of the Royal London Yacht Club, with the London crest under a crown. The brooch is of extremely good quality, and is in immaculate condition. The crystal is convex, polished into a cabochon, the image itself is carved and hand painted, and the viewer is given a 3 dimensional view. The Royal London Yacht Club was founded in 1838, and is now based in Cowes on the Isle of Wight. The hallmarks are very clear, and include the crown and "18" indicating 18 carat gold, Chester wheatsheaf town mark, date letter gothic "S" for 1881, and makers mark R.N. The rim has additional 18 ct hallmarks, and the gold pin is also hallmarked. Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0200 http://leopardantiques.com/object/stock/detail/468 http://leopardantiques.com/object/stock/detail/404 A pair of Fiddle pattern toddy ladles, along with an Old English example, but all made by the same maker in the same year. Given Edinburgh hallmarks, the maker WC could be confused with William Cunningham of Edinburgh, but his makers mark is always in a shaped cartouche. The hallmarks on on all 3 are very clear. Note the switching of the order of the duty mark on the pair. Sun, 31 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0200 http://leopardantiques.com/object/stock/detail/404 http://leopardantiques.com/object/stock/detail/410 An extremely rare Cape silver knife, with ivory handle and engraved on the blade "EHM from HOM". The hallmarks are extremely clear, pseudo - English duty mark and castle, with makers mark JML (mark 82 in Welz, Cape Silver). These are accompanied by another mark, some sort of device, unrecorded in Welz. The knife is very well made, good quality and a pleasing weight. The ivory handle shows good texture and a changing colour from dark to light. The knife is extremely rare, being the only known example recorded to date. The leading authority on Cape Silver Stephan Welz said "I have been unable to trace any Cape silver knives" (Cape Silver pg 73), and David Heller said "the only type of silver knife in use at the Cape seems to have been the butter knife (History of Cape Silver, pg 202). Johannes Lotter was part of the highly regarded Lotter family of Cape silversmiths, being the son of Willem and the brother of Carel. Sat, 12 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0200 http://leopardantiques.com/object/stock/detail/410 http://leopardantiques.com/object/stock/detail/396 A miniature Continental silver teapot, with a magnificent birds head spout, with lovely detail. The teapot is oval shaped, and is decorated with an attractive band of vertical leaves, with a similar pattern repeated on the lid. The lid is domed and has a ball finial. the handle is dark composite, securely attached with brass pins. The teapot is a pleasing weight and is very good quality, clearly the work of a master craftsman. The makers mark ZV is distinct and clear, this is accompanied by another partially struck mark, a shield with 3 vertical staves under a band, with dots above (a crown?). We have not identified either mark, assistance most welcome! Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0200 http://leopardantiques.com/object/stock/detail/396