An interesting 17th century style silver notched 2 pronged fork and matching spoon, the fork a replica of the earliest known English table fork. Both are faithful replicas of the puritan style, with 3 notches at the top of the flat stem. Both carry 2 family crests, the top a griffiths head and wings, the Montagu family crest, the second is a peacock in pride, the crest of John Manners, 8th Earl of Rutland of Haddon Hall, the owner of the original fork. This fork, made in 1632, is known as the Manners Fork, and is in the V&A museum in London. Frances Montagu was the wife of John Manners. The hallmarks are exceptionally well struck, they could not be better. They include makers mark "GOF Lo under star" for George Lowe & Son of Bridge Street, Chester, who date back to 1770 and who still trade today. They also include the Chester wheat sheaf town mark (struck in the spoon bowl as is usual for 17th century spoons), date letter and lion passant. The original box, marked "Lowe & Sons, Silversmiths, Bridge St Row, Ch...

Rare set of 3 Old English tablespoons made in Carlisle, with Newcastle hallmarks, which are very clear. These spoons all have the same engraved initial B as the 4 tablespoons with the incuse duty mark (item S 1184). John Brown worked between 1822 and 1826, he was an ironmonger and jeweller of English Street, Carlisle, who made a variety of small silverware.

An interesting Old English pattern soup ladle, made in Newcastle in 1804 by Ann Robertson, widow of John Robertson I. The ladle is larger than usual, with a long bevelled handle, and original owners engraved script initials IAJ. The hallmarks, which are well struck and clear, are interesting as both the lion passant and the duty mark have been overstruck by a smaller different punch in each case. The hallmarks include makers mark AR, Newcastle townmarks (3 castles and leopard's head crowned), and date letter O for 1804. Both the lion passant and duty mark have been carefully overstruck in the top left hand corner, using smaller lion passant and duty mark punches, the duty punch outline is also a different shape. The care of the overstrike leads us to believe this was done deliberately by the assay office, perhaps to indicate a change of duty or the arrival of new punches in the Newcastle assay office. (we welcome assistance as to the cause of this interesting hallmarking anomaly). Note: Miles Harrison, in his...

A lovely set of 6 single struck Kings pattern with shoulders (Kings Front French Shoulder, Pickford, Silver Flatware, pg 123) Newcastle silver teaspoons. The spoons are the larger size teaspoons, and have a good gauge, over 20 grammes each, these are pleasing quality. Single struck flatware is usually found in Scotland, it is unusual in England, where the patterns were usually double struck (pattern on both sides) The hallmarks on all 6 teaspoons are excellent, and include makers mark TS for Thomas Sewell I, who worked between 1846 and 1875. They include an additional 5 hallmarks, uncrowned Victoria duty mark, lion passant, three castle town mark, leopards head uncrowned, and date letter I in circular punch for 1847. It is clear the date letter and makers mark were struck individually, the other 4 marks struck together in a stub (the date letter punch overlaps slightly on 2 spoons). These are interesting hallmarks, the uncrowned leopards head was only used for 5 years between 1846 and 1850, when it reverted b...

An interesting set of 4 silver ingots with hallmarks from 4 different assay offices, with an explanatory silver plaque, all in the original box. The box lid reads "The British Hallmark Assay Office Specimen Set" (this is faded and worn but still legible), the interior reads "Mayfair Coin Company London W.I." The plaque reads "The British hallmark is the acknowledged guarantee of quality accepted all over the world. The marks show makers initials, quality, assay office and date. Hallmarks were first used in 1300 A.D. The four British assay offices are: London, Birmingham, Sheffield, Edinburgh". The plaque is also clearly hallmarked for Birmingham 1970, along side set number 282. The four ingots have clear hallmarks (London 1970, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Sheffield 1969), with the name of each assay office underneath the hallmarks. The ingots are about 11 grams each, the plaque is 29 grams. Turner and Simpson worked between 1912 and 1979 in the heart of the Birmingham Jewellery Quarter, they were a large firm b...

An interesting early Georgian Britannia silver rat tail Hanoverian tablespoon made by Thomas Salter of Exeter in 1718. The spoon has 5 bottom marked hallmarks, these are all worn (possibly originally lightly struck), but still with enough definition to read each hallmark. In addition to the rat tail the spoon has a central rib on the front of the stem, and original owners initials B over CJ engraved on the back, this engraving is very quaint, more likely done by the owner or local blacksmith rather than a professional engraver. The spoon is well made, and a pleasing weight, but has some wear from use. The hallmarks include makers mark Sa in Gothic script, see Jackson's Silver and Gold Marks page 292, and also Tim Kent's West Country Silver Spoons and their makers 1550-1750, page 130, M134, a book we highly recommend. The 2nd hallmark is Britannia, used between 1701 and 1720, to denote the higher grade 958/1000 silver. The third mark is lions head erased, followed by the castle town mark for Exeter, these mar...

A Worshipful Company of Joiners and Ceilers antique silver spoon, with the Company armorial as a cast silver finial. The spoon is a good weight and quality, it also has a rat-tail bowl. The cast finial has lovely detail, the back has a vacant shield cartouche intended for engraved initials. The company is one of the Livery companies of the city of London, ranked 41st in order of precedence, it was founded in 1375 and received Royal Charter in 1571. The company motto, "Join Loyalty & Liberty" was created by past Master John Wilkes in 1774, John Wilkes is remembered as the founder of "Freedom of the Press", his statue is in Fetter Lane. He was also Lord Mayor of London, his "I love liberty" slogan on silver spoon picture-backs are highly collectible. The armorial has 2 pairs of compasses over a globe, under 2 roses and a scallop shell, with a demi savage holding a spear, supported by 2 naked boys, one holding a female figure, the other a square - all this detail is clearly visible. The hallmarks are very clear,...

An interesting antique silver milk (or cream) jug, hallmarked in Exeter but possibly made in Devon. It is oblong in shape, with an unusual cast rim with different types of flowers and thistles, and a very fine engraved band of scrolling foliage around the body. The jug has an ornate leaf and rose capped scroll handle, and 4 bun feet. The jug, casting and engraving is very fine quality, the work of a master craftsman. The 5 hallmarks are all clear, including makers mark SL. The base has an engraved number "10", possibly an inventory number. The oblong shape was popular for tea services between 1805 and 1815 in London, we often see a style lag in provincial centres. Simon Levy produced Exeter hallmarked silver between 1818 and 1832. Of Jewish origin, he was buried in the Jewish burial ground in Exeter, just outside the Roman wall. He was the son of Emanuel Levy, also a silversmith. They resided in the parish of St Thomas, Devon.

A rare Exeter silver caddy spoon, made by Henry Samuel Ellis, who was only mentioned in the Exeter records in 1853, silver by him is rare (he died in 1878). The spoon has a vine leaf on the front of the handle, and a gilded fluted shell bowl. This is an unusual design, only used by Ellis in 1853 as far as we know (a few 1853 spoons by Ellis have this design, it is now called the HSE trademark leaf terminal - see www.antiquesilverspoons.co.uk and Bonhams - Knowle lot 121, 19/9/2006). The hallmarks are clear, the HSE makers mark is slightly worn at the top. Henry Samuel Ellis was Mayor of Exeter in 1868, his photograph is courtesy of www.exetermemories.co.uk. Henry Ellis and Son, advertised that their spoons were made with silver from the Combe Martin silver mine Story of the Caddy Spoon, 1775-2015, exhibition catalogue, page 35). Combe Martin is in North Devon, the disused silver mines are now a tourist attraction. Silver from Combe Martin was used for items in the crown jewels, it also financed war expenses o...

A set of 4 sterling silver fob medallions, with a bicycle and rider, awarded as cycling trophies. One medallion has a 9 carat gold cycling plaque, this was awarded as a first prize. 2 Medallions are identical, the third has same central cycling plaque with differnet outline, and the 4th has a different gold cyclist. All four medallions were awarded by FWCC (possibly Foster Wheeler Cycling Club) in 1937 to R Richardson, all as first or second prizes for Club 25, 30 or 50 (we assume different distances). All 4 medallions are in excellent condition, and all are clearly hallmarked for Chester 1934 and 1935 by maker TJS, Thomas James Skelton who worked between 1909 and 1961 in Birmingham, they specialised in fob medallions.

A delightful Chester silver miniature card box, complete with complete set of "Little Duke" cards. Box and lid are both hallmarked with Chester marks. George Nathan and Ridley Hayes worked between 1897 and 1912, they had premises in Howard Street, Birmingham and also a retail shop at 13 Hatton Gardens, London.

Teapot, sugarbowl, creamer and tray. Teaservice oblong shaped, half fluted. Tray oval with two handles, ball feet and lattice design over wooden base. Gilt interiors. All items Birmingham except sugarbowl which has a Chester hallmark. All items fully hallmarked with clear hallmarks, even the teapot lid!

Delightful 8 piece miniature Coffee set including coffeepot, with composition handle, milk jug, sugar basin, 2 cups and saucers, and a two handled tray. The interiors are gilt, and each of the 8 pieces is clearly hallmarked (including the coffee pot lid). Saunders and Sheperd were well known for their miniatures.

An interesting collection of York silver teaspoons, with well struck and interesting York silver hallmarks. The oldest spoon is Old English pattern, the other 5 are Fiddle pattern. The spoons are as follows: 1. Old English, Robert Cattle & James Barber, 1809, Mark 16, Baggott, pg 89 (An Illustrated Guide to York Hallmarks 1776-1858) 2. Barber, Cattle & North, 1828, mark 21 Baggott, pg 89 - half moon journeymans mark, engraved "Kathleen". 3. Barber, Cattle & North, 1831, mark 23 Baggott, pg 90, engraved initials ED in script, contemporary. 4. Barber & North, 1835, mark 24 Baggott pg 90, defect to corner of punch. 5 & 6). Pair, Barber & North, 1844, mark 25 Baggott pg 90, defect to edge of punch. As can be seen form the photographs, the marks are well struck and quite varied. Robert Cattle, originally in partnership with George Cattle, John Hampston and John Prince, took James Barber into partnership in 1808. The partnership was dissolved in 1814. Robert Cattle was Lord Mayor in 1840, he died in 1842 (Mu...

Lovely Albert fob chain, of exceptional quality - each and every link in the chain is individually hallmarked with the lion sterling mark. One link has the citymark and datestamp as well. Both bulldog clips at the end of the chains are also hallmarked with the lion and date letter. Albert Cohen and Charles Solomon were highly regarded manufacturing jewellers, based in Holborn Circus, London, who were the sole representatives of the Parisian firm Baudet Freres & Cie in the UK and colonies. The Albert was named after Prince Albert, Consort to Queen Victoria. This particular one is a double, with 2 chain ends, and central attachment for a seal. The bar would fit into a waistcoat buttonhole. Given the length of this Albert, it could be worn as a necklace.

An interesting set of 6 sterling silver rat tail Hanoverian pattern teaspoons, retailed by Liberty, made to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, with hallmarks from 6 different towns - London, Birmingham, Sheffield, Chester, Glasgow and Edinburgh. The spoons have engraved owners initials J&J. All 6 spoons also have the optional coronation mark used in 1952 and 1953. All of the hallmarks are well struck and excellent, note the different style makers mark for Roberts & Belk used on the London spoon. The spoons are in original box (note condition and water damage from photos), exterior reads "British Hallmarks", interior reads "Liberty, British Hallmarks, London Leopards Head. Birmingham anchor, Sheffield crown, Chester three sheaves with sword, Glasgow Tree, Edinburgh castle", with pictures of the hallmarks. This set would make an excellent gift to a young collector interested in hallmarks.

An Exeter silver sifter ladle in the Fiddle pattern, with an engraved family crest featuring a dog or wolf. The sifter is the traditional shape, with beautiful scroll and cross-hatch piercing. The hallmarks are excellent, and include makers mark JAP, Victoria duty mark, lion passant, castle town mark and date letter gothic C for 1839. James Andrew Page worked between 1833 and 1862 in Plymouth, he died in 1898. In 1862 the business became Page, Keen & Page, which survived being destroyed by bombs in 1941, and merged with Bowdens in 1970. Page, Keen & Page produced interesting silver replica spoons complete with early Plymouth hallmarks.

A Cheshire Regiment 9 ct gold sweetheart brooch, with "Cheshire Regt" in blue enamel under the regimental oak leaves. The pin is stamped "9ct gold", no other hallmarks are present. The pin is still in its original box, marked "Dimmer & Son, 20 Eastgate Row, Chester". The regiment was raised in 1689, and won the distinction of wearing the oak leaves at Dettingen, for protecting the king during the battle. The regimental motto is "Ever Glorious". They fought numerous engagements in the Anglo Boer War, including the capture of Johannesburg, and also raised 38 battalions during the Great war. In 2007 the regiment was merged into the Mercian regiment.

A silver thimble, size 11, with an unusual and attractive "pierced skirt" or "garland of flowers", the garlands decorated with tiny flowers, with leaves suspended between the garlands. The hallmarks are clear, but have some wear. The makers mark CH is very clear. The hallmarks are accompanied by size mark "11". Charles Horner invented the "Dorcas" thimble in the 1880's, the business became famous for thimbles, hatpins and enamels. It was located in Halifax, Yorkshire, as a consequence most Horner silver is hallmarked in Chester. We have been informed that this border is called Vandyke.

A fob medallion depicting a golfer in full swing. The central cartouche is gilded, the detail of the golfer and surrounds is very good. The hallmarks are clear. Thomas Skelton worked from Vyse Street, Birmingham between 1909 and 1961. Sporting fobs were often used as sporting trophies in the early 20th century. Suitable as pendant.