An interesting pair of cast silver sugartongs by Hester Bateman, the most famous 18th century female silversmith, she has also been described as the Queen of British silversmiths. The tongs are bow shaped, with attractive cast silver pierced arms, decorated with foliage, scrolls and flowers, and shell grips. The bow is shaped, and has a cartouche for owners initials, which has not been engraved. The side of the bow has faint remnants of owners initials, P/IM, now very worn. Cast sugartongs followed scissor style sugar nips (also called tea tongs), most date between 1770 and 1780, when they were replaced by standard sugar tongs. Cast sugar tongs were complex to make, the arms were cast separately and then soldered onto the bow (Hodges, Georgian Silver Sugar Tongs, page 11). This particular tongs was made from 5 separate pieces, the bottom thinner portion of the arms were cast separately, all the solder joints are visible. We believe this is how the tongs were originally produced, there is a possibility they we...

A set of 6 Georgian silver dessert forks in the Old English pattern, made by the delightfully named Samuel Godbehere, with his partner Edward Wigan. The forks are good quality and a pleasing weight. The forks have a beautifully engraved family crest of a sun in splendour, very intricate with about 50 sunbursts, this is quality engraving. The sun in splendour crest was used by a number of families, all assistance welcome. All 6 forks have clear hallmarks, including makers mark SG/EW which was used between 1787 and 1800.

A cape silver dessert spoon in the Fiddle pattern, made by Daniel Beets, but with previously unrecorded hallmarks, so a rare spoon. The spoon has no engraving, but the bowl is quite battered, so we can only describe the condition as fair, so this spoon is for hallmarking interest rather than use. The hallmarks include makers mark DB struck twice, interspersed with 3 bird hallmarks, in round punch, this bird punch has only previously been recorded as used by Lawrence Twentyman. As we said this is a rare combination of marks, not recorded in Cape Silver by Welz, where he shows Beets with star and circular devices, but not with the bird punch. Heller shows a Beets mark interspersed with pseudo kings head duty marks, also not shown in Welz, which shows Beets did also occasionally use pseudo punches. Daniel Beets worked between 1812 and 1828, he was the illegitimate son of German Balthus Beets and Cape slave Angana. His son, also Daniel Beets, also practised as a silversmith, but as he probably used his fathers p...

A fabulous quality Georgian silver dinner plate or dish, in the traditional shape with applied gadroon border and contemporary family armorial and Royal coronet indicating a son of the Sovereign. The armorial is the Marital arms of Evans-Freke and Gore, the Royal Cypher is for HRH Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex. Whilst these are called plates, it is more of a dish or bowl in shape, and is the smaller diameter, so probably used for a starter dish - but very suitable for use as a bowl today. It must have belonged to a large set, as the base is engraved "No 64", along with 18.10. The hallmarks are clear, the makers mark has been partially double struck with a partial repeated G and pellet above, but still clearly Grimwade mark 852 for George Methuen. He was freed as a large worker in 1743, he worked until 1761, so this dish was produced in his last year of work. Grimwade notes his principal output was salvers, dinner plates and dishes, and notes "his work shows a high standard of design and finish, i...

A Cape silver tablespoon in the Fiddle pattern, with unascribed maker mark I.D. The spoon has original owners engraved initials, now worn, first letter probably A. The makers mark is very distinctive, I.D in serrated punch, between 2 five pointed stars. This mark is not described in any of the Cape silver textbooks. The reason for ascribing this maker to Cape is that 3 known examples have now appeared, and all were sourced in the Cape, hence the attribution. The first was posted in the WWW.925-1000 silver forum in 2012 by a Cape based South African dealer, where Dognose tentatively ascribed it to American silversmith Jabez Delano (1763-1848), see the post http://9251000.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=31240. The photographs supplied have now been used on the ancestry website for Jabez Delano, in our view in error. A second tablespoon appeared on the website of South Africa's leading silver dealer, The Old Corkscrew, described as Cape but unascribed (we agree), item S373, www.theoldcorkscrew.co.za. This spoon is...

A Cape silver tablespoon in the Old English pattern, with rare Cape hallmarks not shown by Welz in his book "Cape Silver and Silversmiths". The spoon has been well used, and has a small split (see condition description). The spoon has original owners initials CW engraved on it, the C is larger than the W, so probably done by the owner himself (overall quite quaint). The hallmarks consist of makers mark IL co-joined in oval punch, in between 2 "birds foot" devices, these marks are well struck and clear. The IL makers mark is mark 71 Welz, but the birds foot device is not recorded (Lotter also used a floral hallmark which is recorded). However, the birds foot device used by Lotter is recorded by Morrison (Silversmiths and Goldsmiths of the Cape of Good Hope, 1936, page 57, where this makers mark is pictured). A variant of this mark is also recorded by Heller (History of Cape Silver, 1949, page 151, mark MM40, which shows an extra arm to the birds foot). We can only assume this is a rare mark that was not seen b...

A beautiful Dutch silver chestnut vase, possibly made in the late 18th century by Hendrik Jurrien Wolters in Zutphen. The vase is urn shaped, on a stepped and reeded oval base, with matching reeded rim. The lid has an ivory oval baluster finial, capped with a silver ball, and the faint remains of an engraved crest and owners initials. The interior of the lid is gilded. The base interior has no gilding or engraving. The base has 3 hallmarks, cross (possibly Zutphen town mark), head or tree mark (similar to English Georgian duty mark), and makers mark HI or IH, or possibly even HP. We have tentatively identified this as Zutphen, given the similarity of the cross to the Zutphen town mark, and Hendrik Jurrien Wolters, who used a mark HIW (all assistance welcome). Previously this vase was described as Indian Colonial or Cape Silver by a Cape Town based auction house, we prefer the Dutch attribution, we even considered the vase could be Dutch Colonial in origin. This vase was also previously described as a tea cad...

A Scottish Provincial silver toddy ladle in the Celtic Pointed pattern, which was only produced in Scotland and Ireland. The ladle is lovely, long elegant handle with circular bowl, and an original engraved family crest of a crescent. The ladle has 3 hallmarks, makers mark RK in rectanglar punch, Edinburgh 3 tower town mark, and a triple cusped Georgian duty mark. We are not sure if these are official or pseudo hallmarks, the Town mark looks a little suspicious, with irregular punch on top, and it should be accompanied by the thistle and date letter if it was struck in Edinburgh. The duty mark with triple cusp is a well made punch so could be genuine, and the makers mark looks a little crude. It could be Robert Keay of Perth but sent to Edinburgh for assay, but we feel these marks are suspicious, so possibly Robert Keay using pseudo marks or another silversmith altogether. Most Robert Keay silver has his eagle mark, but he did sent some silver to Edinburgh for assay. He is known to have used a triple cusp dut...

A magnificent 18th Century Dutch silver sugar caster (strooibus), made in The Hague in 1761 by Pieter van der Kruyf. The caster is large, just under 24 cm, and heavy at 511 grammes, the quality is superlative, this is a museum quality piece. The caster is the traditional baluster shape, but the main body has four twisted ribs, beginning at the foot, which swirl upwards, a very pleasing design feature. The roughly octagonal and cast base has 4 raised leaf like designs. The caster lid also has an attractive design, with very intricate piercings (rococo scrolls) and textured engraving. The finial is a cast flower bud. The hallmarks on the caster lid are clear, crowned lion rampant standard mark (fineness 934), The Hague (Den Haag or S Gravenhage) city mark (stork holding eel below coronet), date letter P crowned for 1761, all 3 of the marks are well struck. The 4th mark is makers mark PK in rectangular punch, the P is worn but the K is clear. There are no hallmarks on the base. A very similar sugar caster, made ...

A rare early Cape Silver three pronged fork, in the Hanoverian pattern. The fork is a lovely shape, long and elegant, with long tines. The fork has makers mark DHS, with some wear but clearly visible, along with a bunch of grapes with vine leaves in a circular punch (mark 109 in Cape Silver by Welz). This fork also has a small Dutch ZII hallmark, for 835 purity, indicating the spoon was imported into the Netherlands at some stage. The fork also has a small owners cross hatch scratch mark next to the makers mark. Three pronged forks were common in the early 18th century, they were gradually replaced by 4 prongs after 1760, perhaps a little later in the colonies, but we believe this dates to the early part of Schmidt's career. Schmidt arrived in the Cape from Strelitz, Germany, as a soldier in 1768. He worked as a sword cutler for the Dutch East India Company, and became a burgher and silversmith in 1779. He died in 1811 (Cape Silver by Welz, pg 139). He is described by David Heller (in his book History of Cape...

A rare pair of Prince of Wales' feathers picture back teaspoons, in the Hanoverian pattern, with Prince of Wales' feathers to the reverse of the bowl. The crown is well struck and clear, the feathers less well struck with some wear, but still clearly visible. As is typical for a teaspoon of the period, these Hanoverian pattern spoons are struck with two marks - lion passant and maker's mark. All the marks are squashed, the maker's mark could be W*L or possibly I*M, depending on which way you read the marks (all assistance welcome), with mullet between the letters. The spoons have no engraving, and are in great condition with just minor wear to the picture back. The motif on the back of the bowl probably commemorates the life of Frederick Louis, Prince of Wales (1707-1751) and heir apparent to the English throne. He was the eldest and estranged son of King George II, but he pre-deceased his father and so the crown passed instead to his eldest son who became George III. John Luddington, in his book "Startin...

An Irish Georgian silver pair of sugartongs, decorated in bright cut engraving, and featuring the rare "Dublin Bow" engraved on both arms. The tongs are lovely quality and a good weight, they have shell grips, concave arms, and are slightly longer and heavier than their English counterparts (See Hodges, Georgian Silver Sugar Tongs, page 197, where he also states that Irish tongs of this period are beautifully made, with distinctive bright cut engraving, commanding prices 2 to 3 times more than English equivalents). The tongs are engraved with original owners initials ER in script. Bright cut engraving was popular in Ireland between 1790 and 1800, the bright cut glitters in candlelight, the Bow pattern is much rarer than the Dublin Star pattern, the Star, Bow and Prince of Wales Feathers (unique to Limerick) are unique to Irish silver. The hallmarks are clear, under the bow, makers mark BT in serrated punch for Taitt who worked between 1784 and 1791, and Irish harp and Hibernia in rounded punch used before 17...

A rare American coin silver sugartongs, made in New York in 1808-1809 by 2 members of the Forbes family of silversmiths. The tongs are quite different from the traditional shape, with a Fiddle shape on the arms, and oval bowls, they are also larger than usual. The tongs are engraved with original owners initials LI in script (could also be IJ if reversed). Both arms are hallmarked with maker mark "C & IW FORBES", with wear to the C, but still clearly visible on one, worn on the other. Colin Van Gelder Forbes and John Wolfe Forbes were brothers, sons of silversmith William Garrett Forbes and brothers to silversmith Garret Forbes. Colin and John were only in partnership between 1808 and 1809, so this is a rare makers mark (Colin worked between 1798 and 1839, John between 1802 and 1835). The Forbes family "dominated the silversmith craft in New York in the late 18th and early 19th century, with shops at 88 and 169 Broadway" - source Silversmith Forbes on www.genealogy.com. This particular makers mark is not dep...

A set of 4 Irish Georgian dessert spoons, bottom marked, with excellent hallmarks on all 4 spoons. The spoons are Old English pattern, and have an engraved family crest of an armoured arm holding a dagger, this engraving is crisp and clear. Bottom marked hallmarks, used before 1790, are seldom clear, they are often squashed, these marks are excellent. They include makers mark IK in rectangular punch with rounded corners, and without dot, according to Douglas Bennett, in his book Collecting Irish Silver, this mark could belong to 3 different silversmiths, John Kavanagh (1783-1819), John Kelly (1780-1794) or James Kennedy (1768-1803), all three of which fall in the date range. More research is required on these makers, the makers mark on these spoons are very clear.

A Dutch silver ribber Hanoverian tablespoon, with interesting hallmarks. The spoon has a pronounced frontal rib, the drop is rounded with a V shaped decoration, and the spoon has original owners engraved initials Ch.I on the back of the spoon, unusually engraved upside down (not sure if this is a Dutch custom?). Six hallmarks are present, all clearly struck and very clear. They include makers mark AI around anchor in shaped punch for Anthonie Janse, who worked in Middelburg between 1787 and 1823 (sources Netherlands Responsibility Marks since 1797, mark 727, and Zeeuw Zilver). The next hallmark is date letter C for 1810, followed by Castle in oval punch, the townmark for Middelburg, only used between 1807 and 1812 during the Kingdom of Holland period (source Voet, Nederlandse Zilvermerken 1445-1951, page 16), so this is a rare townmark. The next hallmark is 10, the standard mark for silver 10 Penningen, also only used 1807-1812, Kingdom of Holland. The 5th mark is crown above co-joined TE, a tax free census m...

A lovely pair of Early Georgian Hanoverian dessert or Child's spoons, made by the leading Huguenot spoonmaker of his day. The spoons are nicely proportioned, and have a double drop. The spoons are engraved on the back (as is usual for this period) with an interesting original family armorial, an Eagle wearing crown, clutching a quarter circle (sextant?) in its talon. The spoons are bottom marked, as is usual for this period, as a result the hallmarks are slightly squashed but still clearly legible, including makers mark PH under acorn for Paul Hanet. The date letter K is also clear, in unusual square outline (only K and M, 1725 and 1727, are not in Norman Shield, the only anomalies between 1561 and 1739), the second spoon is 1726, these hallmarks are worn but still discenable. Paul Hanet is described by Grimwade (London Goldsmiths, page 532) "from the evidence of the survival of pieces bearing his mark, Hanet was clearly one of the principal Huguenot spoonmakers of his day". Hanet entered his first London mar...

An Irish Provincial toddy ladle in the Fiddle pattern, with original owners engraved initial H. The ladle has an old and crudely done repair to the bowl, a circular piece has been let in, the solder marks clearly visible, approximately 1.5 cm in diameter. These toddy ladles are usually Scottish in origin, but Irish examples are known, one is illustrated in the book "Celebration of Limerick Silver, page 132. The ladle is clearly hallmarked "STERLING" in rectangular punch with rounded corners, the letters irregular, so clearly a provincial "home made" punch. No makers mark is present. This sterling hallmark was used by Irish provincial makers, Cork but also Limerick, to denote the standard, these are rare items today. Given the repair we cannot recommend this ladle for use, but hopefully it is of interest to a collector researching different variations of the Sterling marks.

An Irish Provincial silver Bright Cut Celtic Point tablespoon, made in Cork and hallmarked in Dublin in 1804. The spoon is quite large, over 23 cm, and has intricate bright cut engraving, the quality is excellent. The spoon has engraved family crest of a Boar's head, this too is beautifully engraved, and very crisp and clear. The hallmarks are clear, Dublin hallmarks for 1804, and JK in script makers mark for Joseph Kinselagh of Cork, he worked between 1802 and 1807, he may have been a descendant of earlier silversmith of same name, 1750-1783, perhaps the makers mark was passed down the family. More research is required on this maker.

A mixed set of 6 Irish silver tablespoons, all with excellent hallmarks. 3 spoons are Old English pattern (a matching pair by John Pittar, 1779, bottom marked, with worn shellbacks, and a spoon by Michael Keating, 1799), and 3 are Fiddle pattern (1805 by J.S, 1812 by Richard Sawyer and 1832 by Samuel Neville, this last spoon has a rat-tail. 3 spoons have engraved family crest, 2 spoons have engraved initials, and one spoon has not been engraved. All 6 spoons have well struck and clear Dublin hallmarks, and clear makers marks.

A Cape silver konfyt fork in the Fiddle pattern, with 3 tines. The fork is quite colonial in character, the tines have slightly different thicknesses, overall a little crude but clearly hand made. The fork has makers mark DBD between 2 five pointed stars (Welz mark 44), this is clearly struck with slight wear along the top. Dominique Baudouin Du Moulin worked between 1818 and 1833, he arrived in the Cape from Brabant (now Belgium) and married the sister of Cape silversmith Johannes Hendricus Beyleveld (Cape Silversmiths by Welz, page 131.). His work is only found occasionally.