An antique sterling silver ceremonial key, presented to the Lord Bishop of Carlisle on the opening of the Grasslot Mission Room, Maryport in 1908. The key is the traditional shape, with 2 shields (one engraved, the reverse blank) surrounded by scrolls, and a ribbed stem. The key is engraved "Presented to the Lord Bishop on opening Grasslot Mission Room 1908". The key is good quality, a pleasing weight, and has been perfectly preserved in it's original box. The box reads "J.W. Johnston & Son Carlisle", the box is also good quality with velvet and silk interior. JW Johnston were leading jewellers and cloackmakers in Carlisle, an advert shows they had been in business over 49 years. John William Diggle was Bishop of Carlisle between 1905 and 1920, so we assume the key was presented to him (Maryport is a short distance from Carlisle and falls within its area). The hallmarks are clear. James Fenton of Birmingham worked between 1854 and 1956. The Grasslot Mission Chapel was built in 1908, and was sold by the Baptis...

A pair of Scottish sterling silver Millenium napkin riings, elliptical in shape, with the Millenium hallmarks struck as part of the design. The rings are good quality and a very pleasing weight, and do not appear to have been used. The hallmarks have been arranged around the special 2000 cross hallmark, used to celebrate the millenium. Eric Smith was an award winning designer and Jeweller, based in Glasgow for over 50 years until his retirement in 2018. He also completed a project to restore the Glasgow hallmark in 2013, which had not been used since 1963.

A beautifully modelled Victorian cast silver novelty pepper (or pepperette) of a running dog, with pull off pierced head. The dog is a delight to hold and use, the texture gives a pleasing feel, this is a fine quality item. The dog rests firmly on a table, no wobbles. Both the body and the head are clearly hallmarked, including makers mark FE in shaped punch for Thomas Johnson (Dyer's buildings), which was established in 1850, and was transferred to Sampson Mordan in 1898. Frederick Edmonds (FE makers mark used 1892-1898) joined the business in 1878, he took over full control in 1892 until his death in 1898, when his widow transferred the business to Sampson Mordan & Co. Thomas Johnson specialised in small novelty silver items, they supplied many top retailers, including Walter Thornhill, both locally and internationally.

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...

An interesting boxed set of 2 serving spoons, with a very unusual spoon design we have not encountered before. The spoons have gilded bowls, tapered flat stems with a beautiful baluster or urn finial. The box reads "By Appointment, Mappin & Webb Ltd, Queen Victoria Street, London E.C." The hallmarks are clear on both spoons. We welcome information as to if thses spoons were produced for a specific purpose, or were replicas of an earlier spoon. Mappin and Webb was founded in 1859, it still exists today and is one of Britain's most prestigious brands. In addition to Royal Warrants, Mappin and Webb are the Crown Jeweller. Note - We have an identical pair of these spoons, S 11283, but without the box, and dated 1924.

A rare Sampson Mordan sterling silver thermometer case, made to be attached to a chatelaine. The case is tubular, the sliding lid also attached to the chain so it can never be lost. This is a quality item, extremely well made. The original chain is connected to the lid and body with 6 silver eyes, it also has suspension link for attachment to chatelaine. The body is plain apart from incised circles, the base and lid have a raised circular end. The base of the tube is stamped with number 13. The tube is clearly hallmarked with Chester marks for 1910, alongside worn but legible makers mark, all underneath a clear "S. MORDAN & Co". The lid is not hallmarked. The thermometer (which is not working) is marked "SM Made in China" with centigrade symbol, we assume it is not original, but are not sure if the SM could be Sampson Mordan?

A South African Medical Corps WW II gold sweetheart brooch, mounted on a bar brooch. The badge features the rod of Aesculapius with a serpent entwined round it, head uppermost and looking left, all within a laurel wreath, under a Royal crown, the same badge as used by the Royal Medical Corps. The Scroll below reads "S.A.M.C / S.A.G.D.", translated in Afrikaans the Suid Afrikaanse Geneeskunige Diens. The brooch is clearly hallmarked 9CT for 9 carat gold, the swivel clasp securely fastens the pin.

A fabulous set of 6 arts and crafts sterling silver teaspoons, made specially for leading Boston retailer Shreve, Crump & Low by Whiting of New York. The spoons are beautiful, the stems are hand hammered (planished) on both the back and front, and have an applied cast silver floral arrangement with flowers, leaves and berries. The bowls are gilded, these are high quality spoons and would have been expensive when new. All 6 spoons are clearly hallmarked, both with the Whiting lion holding W trademark, and retailers mark "SHREVE. CRUMP & LOW". All 6 spoons are also hallmarked "STERLING". We have not been able to identify this pattern, it does not appear in the Whiting pattern index, so we believe it was specially commissiuoned by Shreve, Crump & Low as an item exclusively available in their store in Boston. Shreve, Crump & Low is the oldest purveyor of luxury goods in USA, having been founded in 1796, it adopted this name in 1869. They still exist today, and describe themselves as "The gem of Boston and America...

A World War II 9 carat gold and enamel sweetheart brooch for the Durban Light Infantry Regiment of South Africa. The brooch features the infantry bugle with tassles under the Royal crown. The brooch has 2 colours of enamel, red in the crown and blue for the letters DLI, the gold has 2 tones, this is a lovely quality brooch. The clasp has a swivel locking mechanism to keep it safely fastened. the brooch is clearly hallmarked 9CT for nine carat gold. The George VI crown shows this dates to WW II, the DLI fought in North Africa and Italy (including El Alamein and Monte Cassino). The regiment was founded in 1854, and still exists today, they were called the Royal Durban Light Infantry between 1935 and 1961 when South Africa became a Republic.

An extremely rare Victorian silver triple compartment stamp box, retailed by Thornhill of Bond Street. The box is a circular dish shape, with three triangular sprung lids, the design is ingenious. The lids have heart shaped plastic covered stamp covers, with original half penny, one penny and two and a half d stamps, these stamps are the 1887 Jubilee issue, securely held in place from behind with red wax seals. The centre has a triangular polished green hardstone which anchors the 3 hinges. Three silver wire work scrolls decorate the top between the lids, these match the 3 wire work scroll feet. Each lid has a shaped thumb piece for easy opening. The 3 interior compartments are gilded. The quality and feel of this stamp box is excellent, one of the best we have encountered. The base is engraved "W Thornhill & Co. Ltd. 144 New Bond St W.", Thornhill was the retailer. The base is clearly hallmarked, as is each of the 3 lids, the interior gilded compartment is also hallmarked - the makers mark Gy&Co appears 5 ti...

A set of six Australian sterling silver souvenir spoons, made by W.J Sanders and retailed by Hardy Bros Ltd. The spoons are coffee spoon size, and have cast finials, 2 kangaroo, 2 koala and 2 kookaburra. The spoons have an attractive cross hatch design to the lower stems, overall they have a lovely arts and crafts feel, we believe they were made by hand. An identical spoon with Koala finial can be seen in the MAAS museum collection, it was part of the Cavill collection. The spoons are all clearly hallmarked with retailers mark "HBrs" for Hardy Brothers, and STG sterling mark. This mark can be seen in the book "Marks on Australian Silver 1950-2005" by Christine Erratt, page 100, which explains this mark was used by WJ Sanders manufacturing for Hardy. The original box reads "By Appointment to her Majesty the Queen, Silversmiths, Hardy Bros Ltd, Jewellers, Australia, Made in England".WJ Sanders was a Birmingham based silversmith who emigrated to Australia in 1911, his business became one of Sydney's leading man...

A Patrick Mavros silver sculpture of a warthog with 2 piglets, on a hard blackwood base. The warthogs are realistically modelled, complete with tusks and raised tail, which allows the baby warthogs (piglets) to follow a parent when running though long savannah grass. One piglet is sitting, scratching it's ear with a hoof, we love this sculpture. The black hardwood base is also lovely, each base is unique. The base has a silver PM button trademark, with PM above Sable Antelope in triangle, the warthogs are also fully hallmarked with PM makers mark and the Zimbabwe sable standard mark (not visible on small sitting piglet). Patrick Mavros has built a luxury Africa themed silver sculpture business over the last 35 years, he is based in Harare, with outlets in London, Mauritius and Nairobi. His customers include the Royal Family, Prince William and Kate are collectors. Other customers include JK Rowling and King Carlos of Spain. This particular sculpture is still available on the Patrick Mavros website (www.patric...

A sterling silver wine taster made by Anthony Elson, one of the 50 leading silversmiths featured in the book "Designer British Silver 1930-1985" by Andrew and Styles, a book we highly recommend. The wine taster has the traditional circular bowl with raised base, and a lovely cast silver handle of textured vine branches, with some pruned ends. The handle is a delight to hold, the thumb rests easily and the grip is secure, so very suitable for use. The taster is clearly hallmarked, including makers mark A.G.E, and also has an engraved number 278 on the base (we know this taster was a limited edition commissioned by the Heritage Collection in 1976, so perhaps each is individually numbered). Anthony Gordon Elson trained under Dunstan Pruden, he worked for William Comyns from 1964-1968 before establishing his own operation, ecclesiastical goods and also limited editions for leading retailers, including Asprey, Spink, Hennell's and Garrards, this taster is one of these. After the boom (he had around 30 staff) creat...

An Arts & Crafts English sterling silver cream or milk jug, at first glance it looks Scandinavian in design, with beautiful clean lines. This is typical of Eric Clements style, he is best remembered for his award winning Mappin and Webb tea and coffee service (this jug is a similar but different design). The jug is a delight to use, it pours beautifully. The hallmarks are excellent, and include "Designed by Eric Clements" facsimile signature, and "Mappin & Webb". Eric Clements is one of the 50 leading silversmiths profiled in the book "Designer British Silver, 1930-1985", by Andrew & Styles, a book which we highly recommend. "Clements was unusual in that he designed silver, and then had the designs manufactured by a craftsman, most silversmiths prefer to produce their own designs. He also had a dual career as educator and designer, he spent most of his career as Head of Industrial Design at Birmingham College of Art. Alongside his academic career he was consultant designer for Mappin and Webb, it is his desig...

An interesting antique silver military spoon, awarded as a shooting trophy. The spoon is Fiddle pattern, dessert size, this is a good quality spoon. The spoon is beautifully engraved with an interesting crest, quartered with rampant lions, leopard's heads and chevrons, with central bugle, below a plant (leek?) star and crown, and above DLI (we assume Durban Light Infantry?). The spoon is also engraved "WON BY R.S.M. WHITE (N.S.C.C.)" - for Regimental Sargeant Major White, we assume the Natal Schools Cadet Corps. We have not been able to positively identify the crest, all hep most welcome, DLI could also be Dublin or Durham Light Infantry. The spoon has very clear hallmarks.

An Ilias Lalaounis "Greek Gold" Arts & Crafts silver beaker, in 900 silver and gilded with a deep golden colour, with hand hammered planished surface. The beaker is a delight to hold, it is bulbous in shape, with flat bottomed base. This beaker (or small vase) is part of Lalaounis's Archaeological collection, where he made replicas of ancient Greek art, this piece dates to the Cycladic period, 3000B.C. The beaker is clearly hallmarked with Lalaounis makers mark and 900 silver standard mark. The beaker is also accompanied with it's original guarantee certificate, where it is described as a "silver gold plated cigarette vase of Cycladic Period 3000 B.C." This certificate shows a number of Lalaounis outlets, Athens, Mykonos, Rhodes and Corfu in Greece, but also Geneva, Zurich, Liberty's in London Regent Street, France, Vienna and Brussels - showing how successful Lalaounis was. Lalaounis opened a store in New York in 1979, so we know this certificate predates 1979. Wikipedia records that Lalaounis was internatio...

A unique sterling silver inaugural key, made to commemorate the opening of the UNISA (University of South Africa) OR Tambo administrative building on the Muckleneuk Campus, Pretoria, in 1980, and presented to South African Minister of Finance Owen Horwood. A series of parallel bars replicate the shape of this iconic building with it's triangular top, this sits on top of a circular hand hammered disc, which represents the rising moon. The key portion is pierced "UNISA September 1980". The key is fabulous quality, and clearly made by hand. The back of the circular moon disc is engraved "To the Hon OPF Horwood in commemoration of the official opening of the Administration building". The key is clearly hallmarked "E Frey Silver 925". The key is perfectly preserved in it's original box, which itself is fabulous quality, a brown grained hardwood with red velvet interior, the base with felt and original "Erich Frey Pretoria" sticker, the empty box is just under 500 grammes, hinges and clasp in full working order. Th...

A Queen Elizabeth 2 1975 Round The World Maiden Cruise sterling silver commemorative medallion, in it's original box. The medallion shows the QE2 ship on a globe with lines of longitude and latitude, the reverse has a map of the world showing the route, with the port of calls as follows: "SOUTHAMPTON / CHERBOURG NEW YORK / PORT EVERGLADES CURACAO / SALVADOR BAHIA RIO DE JANEIRO CAPE TOWN / DURBAN MOMBASA MAHE SEYCHELLES BOMBAY COLOMBO, and continuing below: SINGAPORE BALI HONG KONG KOBE YOKOHAMA / HONOLULU LOS ANGELES ACAPULCO BALBOA / CRISTOBAL CARTAGENA PORT EVERGLADES / NEW YORK CHERBOURG / SOUTHAMPTON". The QE2 visited 23 ports in 92 days during the maiden voyage, it served from 1969-2008. This medallion is catalogued as Laidlaw 0616. The medallion is clearly hallmarked on the rim, YM for Yorkshire Mint, who specialised in commemorative medallions in the 1970's. The medallion also has a Birmingham anchor hallmark separately on the rim, but no edition number (which we have noted on other ...

A sterling silver bowl with a genuine embedded diamond, made to commemorate the centenary of the De Beers diamond company in 1988. The bowl (or dish) is circular, and is engraved in the centre with "DBCMLd" in Gothic script (the logo of De Beers Consolidated Mines Limited), the rim is engraved with 4 bands. The edge is engraved 1888 - 1988, with the brilliant round cut diamond between the dates (diameter of the diamond is 3.5 mm, it sparkles beautifully). The dish is clearly hallmarked with makers mark "EM*ESS" for Em-Ess silverware company, the largest South African silverware producer in the 1970's and 1980's, based in Johannesburg. It also has the Springbok head in U South African standard mark for sterling silver, 925 purity mark and date letter P for 1988. We are aware that this dish was also produced with London hallmarks, it looks identical in design, so we assume De Beers commissioned this dish both in London and South Africa, they were awarded to key customers, including site dealers in Antwerp.