A fabulous Belle Epoque French silver 950 standard flatware set for 6, in the beautiful Louis XV pattern, by renowned Parisian silversmith Emile Puiforcat. This 12 piece luncheon or dessert set has 6 spoons and forks, finely decorated on both sides with scrolls and foliage, the pattern also extends around the top of the bowls, which is quite unusual. Louis XV is an early Puiforcat pattern, long out of production, so rarely seen today. The spoons and forks are lovely quality, the forks have long elegant tines, and are in excellent condition, with no monogrammes. Two hallmarks are present, makers mark EP in diamond lozenge, with penknife (un canif) between the letters, and French Minerve 1st Standard mark, with 1 next to forehead, indicating 950 purity (so higher purity than sterling 925). 4 Spoons and 4 forks have both marks clearly struck, 2 spoons and 2 forks have no hallmarks. Emile Puiforcat established his business in 1857 at 18 Rue Chapon, it still exists today and is known as of of the leading French si...

A rare and attractive Cape silver fish slice with an engraved fish on the blade between a row of leaves. The blade is pierced by hand and the engraving is typically Cape including the straight and wavy dotted decoration around the edge. The blade is quite large and oval in shape, and the Fiddle pattern handle is quite short. The join between handle and blade is visible, but is clearly original as the decoration over-rides the join. The hallmarks are very clear, makers mark IC between 2 shell devices (Welz mark 26), all well struck. Cape silver fish slices are quite rare, and ones with an engraved fish even rarer. Welz (Cape Silver) mentions that Twentyman was the only Cape silversmith who added the engraved fish (now clearly incorrect), one by Twentyman is pictured in Heller (A History of Cape Silver, pg 168, plate 74). The engraved fish on the Twentyman slice is very similar in style and design to this one, we hypothesize it was engraved by the same engraver.

A magnificent set of 13 gilded silver Italian apostle spoons, featuring the 12 apostles on the smaller spoons and the "Master" on the larger spoon - all in their original box. They are extremely good quality and well made, the cast finials have very fine detail. The stems are twisted with a beaded design, and a winged female angel joins the bowls to the stems. Each apostle is named on the back of the finial in Italian - (S. Pilip, Giag, Paol, Luca, Mat, Bart, Piet, And, Tom, Mar, Giov, Sim). The spoon bowls are all made of silver coins (Piastra's) from the Papal States (which included most of central Italy in the 18th century) dated between 1676 and 1802. The coins have the Papal Arms for the following Popes: Innocento XI (1676-1689), Alessandro XIII (1689-1691), Innocento XII (1691-1700), Clement XI (1700-1721), Clement XII (1730-1740), Clement XIV (1769-1774), Pius VI (1775-1799) and Pius VII (1800-1823). Two of the coins, dated 1691, are "Sede Vacante" - translated "The Seat is Empty", meaning they were m...

Rare Cape Silver Christening mug, by the highly regarded Cape Silversmith John Townsend. The body is plain and cylindrical, the handle has a lovely leaf cap, and the mug is of good gauge. David Heller, author of "Cape Silver", described Townsend as the "most versatile" of all the English silversmiths who worked at the Cape. The hallmarks are clear, being makers mark and pseudo English hallmarks which are slightly worn (duty mark, date letter a, leopards head and date letter J) -(see Welz, Cape Silver, pg 122).

A beautiful Grenadier Guards Diamond, Pearl and 14 Carat gold sweetheart brooch, perfectly preserved in it's original Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Regent Street box. The brooch features the Grenadier Guard's flaming grenade, the flames portion contains 25 small diamonds set in 14 carat gold, the body of the grenade is a natural pearl, 6 mm in diameter, set in a gold striated bowl. The grenade is mounted on a gold bar brooch, with gold pin and gold safety roller catch, this is a good quality sweetheart brooch, and would have been expensive when new. No hallmarks are present, but the brooch has tested as 14 carat gold. The original box is also beautiful, leather with gold detail, the interior silk and velvet, it reads "By Appointment to H. M. The King, The Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Company Ltd, 112 Regent St. London W". The Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Co became Limited in 1898, they were amalgamated into Garrard's, The Crown Jeweller's, in 1952. We have tentatively dated this brooch to World War II, but it could be...

A Georgian Irish silver sugar bowl, made by Charles Townsend in Dublin around 1780. The bowl is circular with a fluted design and a flat fold over gadrooned rim, supported by three cast silver shell knuckle hoof feet, we love these feet. The base of the bowl is engraved with original owners initials P over M M, this is alongside the hallmarks. The bowl is clearly hallmarked with the Irish Hibernia and Crowned Harp, next to makers mark CT for Charles Townsend, who worked in Dublin between 1773 and 1790. This is a large bowl, more suitable today for bon-bons, it will hold a lot of sugar! The size and design is typical of the period for Irish silver, a number of other examples have survived. A similar shaped bowl but with different design, but with identical feet, now in the National Museum of Ireland. can be seen in a colour photograph in the book "Collecting Irish Silver" by Douglas Bennett (a book we highly recommend), page 63 and 65. The Metropolitan Museum also has a very similar fluted bowl, also by Charl...

A delightfully decorative chamberstick, realistically modelled as a flower bud, stem and leaves, one of the finest chambersticks we have seen. The flower stem forms the ring grip, and the bud holds the candle, and the pan is octagonal. It is beautifully made and decorated, and is very good quality - truly the work of master craftsmen. Chambersticks were traditionally used to light your way to bed at night. The Angell's are described by Pickford as "very fine 19th century family of goldsmiths" (Jackson's Hallmarks). The hallmarks are clear, and include the duty mark of William IV (even though Victoria was already on the throne), indicating this piece was made between 29 May and 20 June 1837. Both the pan and one of the leaves are hallmarked, even the silver wingnut underneath is hallmarked. The makers mark is poorly struck and only partially visible, but sufficient can be seen to leave no doubt as to the makers identification.

Magnificent enamel silver cigarette case, depicting a Boston Terrier, (brindle with white muzzle) of very good quality. The detail of the enamel is extremely good. The box is engine turned, and has a gilt interior. Both sides of the box are hallmarked with clear marks. John Thompson & Sons, which was formed in the 1860's, still trades as a Jewellers at 20 Rosebury Ave, London.

A rare set of Old English Military Thread and Shell pattern (also called Military Shell) tableforks and dessertspoons (3 of each). These are good quality, the forks around 90 grammes each and the spoons over 60. All 6 have an engraved family crest, a raised lion facing right between 2 horns. The pattern has the regular Thread and Shell pattern, double struck (on both sides), but with scrolls instead of shoulders, as with all Military variants (Pickford, Silver Flatware, page 117). Pickford describes this pattern as "a rare pattern illustrated in the Chawner & Co Pattern book, Appendix page 218", where the Chawner book shows this pattern, termed as "Military Shell". Pickford did not illustrate a photographic example of this pattern , a further indication of its rarity. The hallmarks on all 6 items are very clear, makers mark GA for George Adams of Chawner & Co, and London date letter P for 1870. In addition, all pieces carry additional journeyman's marks (Y, K, 3 petal flower, O), so the particular silversmit...

A ceremonial Indian Colonial Victorian silver trowel, used to commemorate the laying of the foundation stone of a L.M.S (London Missionary Society) church in India. The trowel is the traditional shape but quite small and dainty, it has a turned wooden handle, and a rounded blade. The handle has a silver band around the handle where it joins the silver blade, this has the same decoration as the blade. The band and top of the trowel is engraved with scrolling flowers, in addition the top of the blade has been finely prick engraved with a flowing pattern (each prick is triangular), probably added by a local craftsman. The trowel has no hallmarks at all. The back of the trowel is engraved "WITH THIS TROWEL A. SPICER ESQ LAID THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE L.M.S. CHURCH AT SUNKE RYDROOG SALEM S. INDIA ON THE 25 th NOVr 1882". As you can see from the photographs, the engraving is very quaint, with uneven sized letters, and words flowing into one another, we assume it was done by a local silversmith who did not speak E...

Two rare Georg Jensen sterling silver items designed by Count Sigvard Bernadotte for Georg Jensen in the 1930's. The first is a cigarette cup, design number 825A, and the second is a candy dish, design number 825 (both items carry the design number on the base). Both have the same simple but elegant design, and rest on the same arch patterned foot. Both items are hallmarked "Georg Jensen, Denmark Sterling, 925S", and both have the designers signature "Sigvard" along with the pattern number described above. Count Sigvard Bernadotte, often referred to as "The Design Prince of Sweden", lived between 1907 and 2002. He was the son of King Gustav VI of Sweden, Great Grandson of Queen Victoria, and Uncle to Denmark's Queen Margrethe II. Originally Prince Sigvard, he lost his title when he married a commoner. He spent his career as a designer, not only in silver but ceramics, glass, plastics, furniture and even logos. He co-founded the Swedish Society of Industrial Designers (SVID), and his designs can be found in ma...

A fabulous set of 12 Scottish Provincial dessertspoons in the Fiddle pattern, made by Rettie & Son in Aberdeen in 1837, and hallmarked in Edinburgh. The spoons are good quality, and in remarkable condition, they have not been used much, 11 are perfect, 1 has a very small dent to the bowl. The spoons are engraved with original owners initial W. All 12 spoons are clearly hallmarked "R&S A B D" for Rettie and Son, Aberdeen, alongside full Edinburgh hallmarks for 1837, with William IV duty mark. Middleton Rettie and his son William started the business in 1824, supplying quality goods from 151 Union Street to wealthy Aberdeen citizens. They were joined by other brother James in 1847, and traded until 1892. They are known for extremely high quality items (Michael Wilson, Aberdeen Silver, page 56), these spoons are no exception. Note - We have a matching set of tablespoons S11345.

A pair of attractive and unusual Georgian silver salt cellars, with a lovely pattern created by numerous embossed ovals with circular eyes, with a textured matt pattern in between. The cellars have 4 cast silver shell headed hoof feet, with additional cast shell feet below the hooves. The cellars have irregular gadrooned rims, and gilded interiors. They are a substantial size and weight, over 160 grammes each, these are lovely quality. The hallmarks are clear, but the makers mark is partially worn on one cellar, and slightly worn on the other, but no doubt this is William Fountain (Grimwade mark 3127). William Fountain was freed in 1785, he had a long career and worked until 1825 (he used this mark between 1805 and 1825). He produced some notable silver, examples of his work are in numerous museums, including the V&A in London.

A magnificent Victorian cast silver Cherub salt, a replica of a style introduced by Paul de Lamerie. The salt have a cast vine leaf bowl, supported by a cherub with arm outstretched, and two dolphin feet supporting the bowl. This is fabulous quality, and the condition is excellent. The cherub (also called amorini and putti, but not cupid as no wings present) is naked except for a small loincloth, he is well modelled, note the detail of his hair. The bowl is a cast vine leaf, also well modelled, and the 2 stylised dolphin feet are copies of those used by Lamerie. The salt is solid, and stands well on the table, no wobble at all. Traces of original gilding are still visible, especially on the harder to reach areas on the body of the cherub (we imagine much of the gilding has been polished off over the years. The cherub is hollow, the casting hole visible under his bottom. The salt is clearly hallmarked on the vine leaf, with makers mark WS in distinctive punch for William Stocker, along with Victorian duty mark...

A magnificent Arts and Crafts silver Apostle spoon, one of the finest we have seen. The spoon has a well cast Apostle complete with Nimbus in flowing robe, with one hand raised in blessing. The detail is lovely, including the full beard and flowing hair. He stands on an attractive pedestal with scrolls and foliage. The stem is very unusual, with an open pear shaped loop at the base and central groove (front and back), it is hand hammered and is wrapped in an applied entwined scroll. The bowl is also hand hammered, circular but tapered as it joins the stem, with a fascinating drop (or join), the tapered bowl splits into two strands which are curled into rolls, held in place by 2 silver balls - we have never encountered this before in a spoon. The hallmarks are clear, including makers mark F.C in quatrefoil punch for Frederick Courthope. Courthope took over the business of respected George Angell in 1884. he started trading in his own name in 1889, he worked until 1912. He was a master silversmith, who hand mad...

A rare and unusual Victorian silver double lidded twin stamp box, one of the most practical designs we have seen on a stamp box. The box is rectangular, and is good quality, a pleasing weight, with gilded interior with 2 sloped compartments, and twin lids on separate hinges. The lids have separate silver frames which hold the glass in place covering the representative stamp. The box is clearly hallmarked, both lids and both frames are hallmarked as well. Cohen & Charles worked between 1890 and 1974, founded by Albert Cohen and Charles Solomon. They were the sole English agents for the leading French firm of Baudet Freres & Cie, so were a prestigious firm (Culme, Gold & Silversmiths, pg 88).

A lovely reproduction early Georgian silver tea set, comprising bullet teapot, hot water jug, sparrow beak milk jug and circular sugar bowl. The teapot is almost spherical, with a c scroll wooden handle, octagonal spout and circular foot. The hinge is applied, the circular lid fits snugly, and it has a baluster finial with wooden knob. This reproduces a popular early Georgian style, circa 1725. The hot water jug is baluster shape, with a domed lid, matching finial, handle and circular foot. The sparrow beak milk or cream jug is also baluster shaped, has a silver scrolling handle and matching circular foot. The sugar bowl is circular with a moulded rim, and matching circular foot. The set is very good quality and weight (just under 2 kilogrammes in total), it is a pleasure to use - this high quality is often seen in the antique silver reproductions of earlier styles made between the 2 World Wars. All 4 pieces are fully hallmarked, with clear hallmarks, 3 pieces are also stamped "Made in England". Both lids ar...

A lovely 18th century Dutch silver miniature milk jug, baluster shape on 3 scrolling feet, with a wavy rim. It is excellent quality, very well made, and in wonderful condition. It was made by Johannes van Geffen, grandson to Arnoldus van Geffen, the most celebrated of all Dutch miniature silver makers. This jug is identical to a jug depicted in Miniature Silver Toys by Victor Houart, pg 62, even the detail on the legs and handle is identical. The one depicted in the book was made in 1762 by Arnoldus van Geffen, so interesting to see the grandson copying his grandfather's work with such exact detail. The hallmarks are very clear, Amsterdam town mark with date letter Z for 1784, and makers mark of a hunting horn in a heart, topped by a crown for Johannes van Geffen. Johannes worked between 1766 and 1798. This milkjug matches a teapot (S 1576) also made by Johannes van Geffen in 1784. A very similar miniature milk jug, made by Hendrik Duller in 1792, is depicted in the book "Tall and Small, Antique Dutch Silver ...

A delightful 18th century Dutch silver miniature teapot, spherical in shape, with S shaped spout, scrolling handle, and original lid. It is excellent quality and in very good condition. A very similar spherical miniature teapot can be found in the V&A museum in London. It is depicted in the book "Miniature Silver Toys" by Victor Houart, pg 67, this teapot was made in 1758. The base is recessed, so the hallmarks are well preserved - Amsterdam town mark, and makers mark for Johannes Van Geffen (hunting horn within heart under crown). The makers mark overstrikes the date letter, but sufficient can be seen to determine that it can only be the Z of 1784. This teapot seems to match the miniature milk jug, S 1575, also made by van Geffen in the same year. Johannes van Geffen, grandson of Arnoldus van Geffen, worked between 1766 and 1798.

A unique antique silver letter opener, with 3 gold sovereigns set in the handle, which has an attractive open scrollwork design, with a central silver ball. The handle fits well into the hand, it feels similar to holding a sword or dagger! The opener is good quality and is a good weight. Two sovereigns are Victorian (dated 1854 and 1879) and one is Edwardian (dated 1904). The sovereigns are aligned by the date letters, all at the base on the same side, indicating the date has significance. The dates are all 25 years apart, so we assume the opener was specially commissioned to celebrate a 50th wedding anniversary, which is traditionally celebrated with gold. The couple would have married in 1854, celebrated their 25th anniversary in 1879, and their golden anniversary in 1904. We cannot imagine a nicer golden wedding anniversary present! The hallmarks are clear. Andrew Barrett & Sons worked at 63 Piccadilly between 1844 and 1970. The sovereigns are also in fine condition, they are 22 millimetres in diameter, an...