A Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) silver baby pusher, of standard design and plain except for the Jugendstil decoration to the handle. The top of the pusher also has a wavy rim. The silver is 800 standard, which is common for German silver (usually 800 or 833 standard), so lower than sterling standard. The hallmarks are clear, including the German moon and crown used after 1888, 800 for grade, and wheel and star makers mark for Martin Mayer of Mainz. He started working in 1888, we have dated this circa 1905 given the style. Mayer produced designs by Peter Behrens, Hans Christiansen and Patriz Huber.
A beautiful set of 6 German Art Nouveau (Jugendstil) teaspoons, with typical sinuous lilies design. The spoons are 800 silver, and all have clear hallmarks. The makers mark of a man holding a stave is the mark of Gustav Haegermann of Burgdorf and Hannover. The set was retailed by Paul Hesse of Magdeburg (Breiteweg 64), who also stamped "Hesse" on all 6 teaspoons. The crescent and crown are the German silver marks used since 1888. The spoons are in their original box, also decorated in typical Art Nouveau or Jugendstil style.
A magnificent dessert sized spoon with the Goddess Nike standing on a pedestal with the initials "JERC", in script initials. Nike is the Greek winged Goddess of victory, strength and speed, she appears on the back of every Olympic medal. The detail of the Nike casting is excellent, this is a spoon of exceptional quality, as you would expect from Garrard. The hallmarks are very clear. The firm of R&S Garrard & Co (Garrard's), which began life in 1722 and still exists today, is famed for it's exceptional silver of very good quality. Garrard's were Crown Jewellers for much of their history, they lost the Royal warrant in 2007. Re the script initials, we assume they belong to a sports club, perhaps a rowing or rugby club? - we would welcome opinion's or corrections.
A typical Art Nouveau silver belt buckle, probably a nurses belt buckle. The buckle is an interesting shape, and has an Art Nouveau Female head, with flowing locks and flower in hair. The head is actually a separate piece of silver, also hallmarked, which provides depth to the buckle. The buckle is also engraved with different flowers and leaves.
Stunning pair of very good quality 2 pronged pickle forks of 800 purity, with a beautiful jugendstil design on both the back and the front of the forks, and horseshoe pattern above the prongs. The box is intact, but showing signs of its age. The hallmarks are very clear, depicting the German moon, crown, 800 purity and a double headed eagle, the makers mark for Bruckmann. Bruckmann were the largest silver producer in Germany, and were noted for their Jugendstil designs.
Lovely set of 800 silver German Art Nouveau tablespoons, with stylised Lily design. Koch and Bergfeld of Bremen were founded in 1829, and were one of the 3 large German silver companies. They executed designs by Hugo Leven, Albin Muller and Henry van der Velde (Krekel-Aalberse). Hallmarks are present on all 6 spoons, 5 are clear and 1 is worn.
A lovely cast silver belt buckle, probably a nurses buckle depicting a bird, butterfly, flowers and bullrushes (on each buckle). The quality is exceptional, the design is well modelled with lovely detail. The buckle was designed by Winifred Green (wife of Charles), who was a talented designer (Source Culme, London goldsmiths). Charles established the firm in 1903, so this buckle was one of their earlier pieces. The firm still exists today, and has a showroom in Cross St, Hatton Gardens, London. The hallmark is extremely clear.
A Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) silver pendant by the famed Murrle Bennett & Co. The pendant is hammered silver, set with a turquoise cabochon, flanked by eight studs and four cut out scrolls. The pendant has the MB&Co makers mark, and 950 standard mark (incuse). Murrle Bennett was founded by Ernst Murrle and JB Bennett, they specialised in high quality but reasonably priced jewellery in the Art Nouveau (Jugendstil) style. They were London based, but production took place in Pforzheim, Germany. They had their own catalog and shop, but also sold through Liberty & Co.
A set of 6 Art Nouveau silver buttons, with a typical Art Nouveau style female head with long flowing hair. The detail is good, and the hallmarks are clear on all 6 buttons. The buttons are still in their original fitted case, which is intact and in working order, but scuffed on the outside and faded and worn in the interior.
A lovely set of 6 cast silver buttons, with a realistically modelled kingfisher in flight, surrounded by flowers and foliage. It appears each button was cast individually by hand, as the details in each is slightly different. Each button is fully hallmarked, but of interest is that the hallmarks are struck in different places, and some are partially obscured. William Walter worked between 1897 and 1906, and was based in Newgate St, London. They supplied high quality jewellery and silver smalls.
Swedish Art Nouveau bowl with superb bearded iris design repeated on 4 sides of the bowl, by a well known Swedish maker. The lip of the bowl is wavy, in keeping with the style. Hallmarks are clear, being CG HALLBERG, triple crown Swedish national mark, St Erik's head for Stockholm, and Y6 datestamp for 1901. (Note: please forgive our previous incorrect attribution of this bowl to Copenhagen).
An antique silver picture frame, in Art Nouveau form, depicting 3 farm workers in the fields cutting hay with scythes, with a village church in the background, with the motto "Peace hath her victories, Milton". The quote by Milton (1608-1674) apparently in a letter to Lord General Cromwell, is the first line of a sonnet "Peace hath her victories, no less renowned than war". This line is amongst the most remembered of Milton's work. The hallmarks are small but clear, and the frame also has a registration number (to protect the design being copied). This frame has a new black velvet backing professionally done, the original velvet backings on these antique picture frames is often in very poor condition. With the new backing, this frame is suitable for daily use and display.
A magnificent pair of Victorian silver gilt spoons, with a beautiful figure of a maiden (or Goddess), sculpted with lovely detail. She is full figure, with a long flowing dress with a high slit, with flowers adorning the front. She holds her arms crossed, and has her hair in a bun. The design has a strong Art Nouveau look and feel, these spoons were well ahead of their time when made in 1873. The spoons are very good quality and gauge, very suitable for use as serving spoons for a dessert. The hallmarks are very clear on both spoons. Henry William Curry took over the business of Augustus Piesse in 1868, which he continued until 1889. Of interest is that Curry was in trouble with the Goldsmiths Hall in 1880 in a matter of counterfeiting hallmarks (John Culme, Directory of Gold and Silversmiths, pg 366).
Set of Georg Jensen sterling silver flatware in the popular Acorn pattern, designed by Johan Rhode in 1915. Rhode was probably the most influential of all the designers who worked at Georg Jensen, and the Acorn pattern is the most popular of all of Jensen's flatware designs, still in production today. The set comprises of 12 teaspoons (medium size), 12 cakeforks and 12 butterknives, which are also suitable for pate. The butterknives all have silver blades (these are sometimes produced with steel blades). Each of the 36 pieces is clearly hallmarked "Sterling Denmark Georg Jensen & Wendal A/S", the mark used between 1945 and 1951 on items retailed in Copenhagen.
