A set of 6 rat tail trefid coffee spoons, reproductions of a 17th century style, but just a few years short of being antique themselves. The spoons are in excellent condition, they do not appear to have been used. The original box reads "Wilson & Gill, The Goldsmiths, 139 Regent Street, London W", under a crown. Wilson and Gill was established in 1892, it still trades today as Hester Clarke (www.hesterclarke.co.uk), run by the 5th generation descendants. The hallmarks are clear on all 6 spoons, including makers mark TB&S for Thomas Bradbury & Sons, a leading Sheffield manufacturer.

A Cape Colony National Rifle Association silver shooting trophy, the Inter Colonial Grand Challenge Shield. The shield is mounted on its original wooden stand, with brass hinge, it also has an additional silver plaque on the back that is engraved "The Grand Challenge Shield 1945". The shield has lovely detail, 6 flags divided by Kings crown, above a ribbon that reads "CAPE COLONY NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION". Below that, the Cape Colony coat of arms with female herald supporters, blowing trumpets. To the right and left Zulu shields and spears above crossed rifles, all above a shooting range scene, with seated adjudicator and spectator with binoculars, surrounded by laurel wreath. The base has a cartouche which reads "INTER COLONIAL GRAND CHALLENGE SHIELD". This shield is also found in white metal and copper, this is a sterling silver version, with a full set of clear hallmarks. It is listed in Laidlaw (Commemorative Medals of South Africa, 1017), it was first produced by Mappin & Webb between 1902 and 1910. Ev...

A Boer War "sweetheart brooch" in 15 carat gold, so we assume the sweetheart was an officer. The brooch carries the badge of an Infantry Regiment, the 19th (County of London) Battalion, St Pancras. It is engraved "South Africa, 1899 - 1902". The gold has a reddish colour, whcih contrasts well with the red and blue enamel. It is lovely quality, even the clasp and pin are in 15 ct gold. Both the brooch and pin are stamped "15ct", these are the only hallmarks. 15 ct gold was only used in Britian between 1854 and 1932, when the 15 ct and 12 ct standards were replaced by 14 carat.

A very interesting Antique silver Slip-Top jam spoon, dating back to the Great War (World War I), which would have been sold exclusively by Harrod's. The spoon is a replica of an early 17th century slip top spoon, complete with a V shaped rat-tail, these spoons are also called "slipped in the stalk' and "slip-end" spoons. The slip top on this spoon almost resembles a screwdriver head, and could be used practically to open tin lids. The spoon bowl is egg shaped, we think it was originally intended for jam. The quality is very pleasing, you cannot resist picking up and using this spoon, we absolutely love it. The hallmarks are clear, and include makers mark RB for Sir Richard Burbridge, 1st Baronet, who was the Managing Director of Harrods at the time. Harrods today still describes itself as "The World's Leading Department Store". The spoon date of 1915 is interesting, probably made just before silver and other valuable resources were directed at the war effort. An identical spoon is photographed in the book "A...

An antique sterling silver napkin ring with an applied cast silver bulldog, very realistically modelled, and engraved "S.A. Bull Dog Club", for South African bulldog club. The napkin ring is circular, and is clearly hallmarked with makers mark M&W for Mappin & Webb, with Sheffield hallmarks for 1909. The South African Bulldog club was formed in May 1908 and still exists today, see their Facebook page. We assume this napkin ring was commissioned by the original members as prizes.

A National Rifle Association 1860 Silver trophy medallion, which would have been awarded as a rifle shooting trophy. The obverse has 2 soldiers, the first a British longbow man with dates 1300-1500, the second a rifleman dated 1860, above motto "Sit Perpetuum" - translated "May it last forever". The reverse has a laurel wreath surrounding "The National Rifle Association 1860". The medallion is excellent quality, and in excellent condition, without any engraving, so perhaps it was never presented. The hallmarks are clear, and include makers mark E&Co for Elkington, who are known for their superb quality. The National Rifle Association of the United Kingdom is a registered charity with a Royal Charter, whose charitable objectives are to promote and encourage marksmanship throughout the Queen’s dominions in the interest of defence and the permanence of the volunteer and auxiliary forces, naval, military and air. The formal purposes of the charity are to promote the efficiency of the armed forces of the Crown, ...

A delightful pair of sterling silver rat-tail trefid spoons, coffee spoon size, these spoons were Christmas presents from the Grand Pump Room Hotel in Bath in 1923. The spoons are engraved with the hotel armorial, the stems engraved "Grand Pump Room Hotel, Bath", and the bowls engraved "Xmas 1923". The rat-tails are ribbed, these are perfect replicas of 17th century trefid spoons. The hallmarks are clear on both spoons. "The Grand Pump Room is a historic building in the Abbey Church Yard, Bath, Somerset, England. It is adjacent to the Roman Baths and is named for water that is pumped into the room from the baths' hot springs. Visitors can drink the water or have other refreshments while there. It has been designated as a Grade I listed building since 1950. The building now also houses a restaurant, where afternoon tea can be taken. Music in the restaurant is provided by the Pump Room Trio — the longest established resident ensemble in Europe — or by a pianist. There has been music in the Pump Room since ...

An Edwardian replica of a mote skimmer spoon, made by the leading firm Elkington. The oval spoon bowl has a pierced pattern of foliated scrolls and holes, the rounded handle is attached to the bowl with a rat-tail, the finial is a three sided triangular spearhead, which is very sharp. This spoon is excellent quality, as you would expect from Elkington, it has a lovely feel in the hand. It is teaspoon sized, most mote spoons were longer. Mote spoons originated in the early 18th century, and were used to skim off floating particles of tea leaves and motes (tea dust) from a cup of tea (Newman, Illustrated Dictionary of Silverware, page 217). The long thin handle with sharpened point was used to clear the spout of a teapot (when spouts were still straight) where tea leaves clogged it (remember tea leaves were coarser then than we are used to today). In the Plate Offences Act of 1738 these spoons were called tea strainers, but mote spoon or skimmer is the more popular description. There has been controversy over t...

A set of 6 interesting Dutch silver mocha spoons, these spoons are replicas of medieval daimond point spoons dating between 1350 and 1560. The spoons are 835 grade, and have a pyramid or diamond shaped finial mounted on a pedestal, with a 4 sided tapered stem. The fig shaped bowls have a pronounced drop from the stem, as is usual in diamond point spoons, but the bowls have a more pointed end. All 6 spoons are clearly hallmarked with makers mark B2V* for JM Visser of Bijkamps & Co of Steenwijk, this mark was used between 1946 and 1975 (Netherlands Responsibility Marks since 1797, mark 2790. The spoons also have 835 grade mark. Bijkamp & Co is a respected Steenwijk silversmith, founded in 1835. The Visser family married into the Bijkamp family, Jan Visser whose mark is on these spoons died in 1950. We really like these spoons!

A pair of octagonal engine turned napkin rings, with applied armorial of the city of East London, South Africa. The armorials are lovely, with 4 colours of enamel, and good quality and gilded, we assume a metal, possibly silver, but no hallmarks are visible (possibly hidden on the back which is glued to the napkin rings. The rings are a pleasing shape, with 2 engine turned panels each, both are clearly hallmarked. The armorial depicts the cross of St George, as with the original London, with sheaves of wheat and sheep depicting agriculture, below a rising sun signifying the east. The shield rests on a gold anchor, as per the Cape Colony arms. This armorial was granted in 1892, it was replaced in 1959 by a more heraldically correct version.

A Clan MacGregor (or Gregor) Scottish sterling silver clan badge, with pin to be worn as a brooch or kilt pin. The badge is the traditonal shape, with cast silver crowned lion erased, surrounded by belt with motto "'S RIOCHAIL MO DHREAM", translated "Royal is my Race". The badge is lovely quality and is in excellent condition. The badge is clearly hallmarked for Edinburgh 1950, with makers mark H&I for Hamilton & Inches, the leading Edinburgh silversmith from Princes Street, they worked between 1870 and 1977. The current MacGregor clan chief is Sir Malcolm Macgregor, 7th Baronet of Lanrick and Balquhidder. The clan dates back to the early 800's, they were amongst the first clans to play bagpipes, and their most famous member was the outlaw and folk hero Rob Roy MacGregor.

An interesting Arts & Crafts copper ladle made by of of South Africa's leading Arts & Crafts silversmiths, the Austrian immigrant Kurt Jobst. The ladle has a long tapered handle, and a circular bowl that is quite flat, the bowl connected to the handle with a rat tail. The bowl (front and back) and the top of the handle are planished (hand hammered leaving a wonderful textured finish), in classic Arts & Crafts fashion, the back of the handle is smooth. The hallmarks are well struck and clear, and include his trademark "unicorn" KJ mark, along with "Jobst". Jobst was born in Austria in 1905, he served his apprenticeship in Hanau, Germany, his influence was the Bauhaus movement. He emigrated with his family in 1936 from Austria to South Africa to escape Hitler, and became one of Johannesburg's leading silversmiths. He was commissioned by the South African Government to make the official wedding present for Queen Elizabeth in 1947 (a silver box with diamond necklace), he also made silver for Ernest Oppenheimer (c...

An Irish Terrier Club sterling silver trophy spoon, which is in excellent condition. The spoon features a well modelled Irish Terrier head, which stands out in relief, on a shield under the banner which reads "The Irish Terrier Club". The spoon handle is pierced and engraved with an Irish shamrock, this is a lovely and unusual design for a spoon. The quality is excellent, the shield is cast silver, it is a pleasing weight. The spoon would have been specially commissioned by the club who wanted to present a more useful trophy than a medal. The club was established in 1911, and still operates today (although I doubt they still have such beautiful silver spoon trophies!), see www.irishterrierassociation.co.uk. The first president was the Marquis of Breadalbane, who was a noted antique silver spoon collector, so perhaps he drove the production of such beautiful trophy spoons. The hallmarks are clear, this spoon was made in Sheffield in 1924 by Martin Hall & Co Ltd, who worked between 1853 and 1962. Robert Martin ...

An antique silver golfing medallion, featuring a golfer in plus four's, his caddy and a lady observer with walking stick, all in traditional attire. The medallion is quite large and heavy, the quality is excellent. The detail is lovely, and includes a church, house, trees and fence in the background. The reverse has a laurel wreath, and is engraved "P.P.BURG GOLF CLUB 1911, won by J.C. TERBLANCHE". P.P.Burg stands for the town PaulPietersburg in northern Kwazulu Natal, South Africa, which was established in 1888. The front of the medallion has the engraver's initials WJD for William James Dingley, the back is fully hallmarked, but the hallmarks are worn (just discernable, including makers mark WJD.

A set of 6 matching sterling silver golf teaspoons, with embossed crossed golf clubs and ball at the top of each spoon, with reeded border. The spoons are a good quality and weight. Hallmarks are clear on all 6 teaspoons. Walker and Hall were a large and successful firm, they worked between 1882 and 1960.

A very interesting commemorative silver serving spoon, celebrating the 100th anniversary of Samuel Crompton who died in 1827. Crompton was an inventor who invented the spinning mule, he is regarded as a pioneer of the British spinning industry, which contributed greatly to the industrial revolution. This is a lovely spoon, very good quality and weight, ideal for serving. The hallmarks are excellent, and are accompanied by a registration mark, Rd 727476, indicating the spoon design was registered at the patent office. The spoon is also stamped "Preston's Ltd". Prestons of Bolton is a jewellery store founded in 1869, it still exists today, and is regarded as the "Diamond Centre of the North". Crompton was born, lived and died in Bolton.

A delightful silver Christening present, consisting of a boxed set containing child's spoon and pusher, decorated with a scene from the "This little piggy" nursery rhyme. The spoon bowl shows a pig complete with straw hat, in a donkey drawn cart, with trees, hills and birds in the background, along with inscription "This little pig went to market". The detail is lovely, as can be seen in the photos. Both handles are decorated with the same flower and scroll pattern. The hallmarks on both are very clear, and include a registration number "Rd No 348578", indicating the design was registered to prevent copying by other firms. Levi & Salaman was established in 1870, and was merged into Barker Brothers in 1921 (Culme, Directory Gold and Silversmiths). They were highly regarded, particularly for good quality souvenir spoons. An interesting story is that one of their spoons saved a soldiers life in WWI when it deflected a bullet, this spoon was viewed by the Queen at the British Industries Fair in 1915 (Culme).

A lovely Hanau silver commemorative spoon, with a cast bust of Frederick the Great, with lovely detail. The bust sits on a plaque with the words "Fridericus Borussorum Rex 1740-1786", translated "Frederick King of Prussia". The stem of the spoon is decorative, with dolphins, a crown and a twisted design. The spoon bowl is also decorated with flowers and scrolling foliage. The hallmarks are clear, and include makers mark "n" (Scheffler 489) for Neresheimer, and stylised bunch of grapes (image 1, 3rd hallmark under Neresheimer on www.925-1000.com). The Neresheimer n is also called the "Nuremberg n" (Culme, Gold and Silversmiths). They also include importers mark B.M (struck twice) for Berthold Muller, who for many years was the sole British agent for Neresheimer (Culme). Berthold Muller and Son traded between 1892 and 1915, when Muller changed his name to Miller (we assume as a result of anti-German feeling in London during the First World War). The 2 B.M marks were struck by different punches, the larger one B...

A lovely silver belt buckle, decorated with a mother of pearl flower with purple, white and orange colours, which change colour as it catches the light. The buckle is also engraved with leaves and flowers in bright cut fashion. The buckle has Birmingham hallmarks, with makers or retailers mark "FHA Ld" overstriking other marks, including the date letter. FH Adams used this mark between 1908 and 1915, they worked from New John Street. Given the style of decoration and lovely mother of pearl work, it is possible the buckle is continental in origin, and received Birmingham marks after import into Britian.

A lovely Irish silver torque, hand crafted with clearly visible hand hammered marks. This is a neck torque (as opposed to a bangle torque intended for a wrist). Torques are a traditional Celtic design. Padraig O'Mathuna worked from the lovely town of Cashel in Tipperary. Cashel is the traditional seat of the Kings of Munster.