An interesting sterling silver Presidential Mint Julep cup, made by Mark J. Scearce of Shelbyville, Kentucky during the Presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower. It is a copy of an early Kentucky silver mint julep cup, with beaded top and bottom borders, the cup is a substantial size and weight, the quality is very pleasing. This example has no engraving. The base is engraved "Mark J. Scearce, Shelbyville, Kentucky, Sterling", and has a Presidential eagle hallmark above the letters DDE, all the hallmarks are very clear. Scearce was fascinated by early coin silver mint julep cups, and started to produce these replica's during the Presidency of Harry Truman (1945-1953), they are still produced today, each with the eagle hallmark and initials of the current President. This cup has the initials DDE for President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who served between 1953 and 1961, so it is one of the earlier versions. As tradition goes, each new President receives one of these silver cups with their engraved initials, other famous r...

A set of 6 Scottish Provincial Oar pattern teaspoons made in Banff circa 1820, 4 by John McQueen and 2 by William Simpson I. The Oar pattern is also called Fiddle without Shoulders (Pickford Silver Flatware page 111), it is a scarce variant only found in Scotland. All 6 teaspoons are engraved with original owners initials JJR, but close inspection of the engraving shows the 2 spoons by Simpson were engraved by a different hand, we presume this was done later to complete a set of Banff teaspoons. You can also see slight differences in the shape of the bowl and Fiddle in the 2 Simpson spoons when compared to the Mcqueen spoons, showing they were all made by hand. The hallmarks on all 6 spoons are good, the 4 McQueen spoons have the stub mark of McQueen - B, A, Scottish Thistle, McQ - mark BF35 in the Directory of Scottish Provincial Silversmiths by Richard Turner, a book we highly recommend. 2 spoons have wear to the B, and one spoon has wear to the McQ, probably a result of uneven punching. The 2 Simpson spoon...

An interesting set of 3 antique sterling silver serving implements, in the rare Venetian/Italian pattern. They consist of a fabulous quality stilton cheese scoop (81 grammes), and matching pickle fork and butter spreader, all beautifully preserved in original felt and silk lined case. The pattern is very intricate, and is repeated on both sides, at first glance it is similar to Elizabethan pattern, both are Renaissance and Baroque in style. Unlike Elizabethan this pattern has a circular cartouche, repeated on both sides, this has not been engraved. Venetian/Italian pattern was registered in 1868, most pieces are by Martin Hall&Co, this is a scarce pattern (Pickford, Silver Flatware, page 94). Pickford aslo describes a subtle difference between Venetian and Italian (this is difficult to see without a photo of both). The box reads "Mappin & Webb, Manufacturing Goldsmiths & Silversmiths, London, Sheffield & Johannesburg". The hallmarks are clear on all 3 items. We love this set, a delight to hold and use.

A Cape silver soup ladle in the Fiddle pattern, it is quite large and of good weight, with a substantial bowl size, definitely larger than usual. In addition to it's large bowl, the handle is wider than usual, and the drop is large and rounded, more European in style than English. Overall it has a very appealing Colonial charm, quite different from English examples of the period, so probably from early in Twentyman's career, before his flatware more closely resembled English examples. The ladle has an original engraved owners crest, a running stag, the engraving also Colonial in style, the body of the stag a little too long, the engraving still crisp and clear, we really like it. The crest can be described as "Argent, a stag trippant attired and unguled", this is the South African crest of the McCarthy family (Pama, Heraldry of South African Families, page 205). The hallmarks are very clear, makers mark LT for Lawrence Twentyman, and pseudo English hallmarks (duty mark, castle town mark, and date letter C) -...

A set of 6 Old English pattern Cape silver tablespoons, made by Johannes Combrink. All 6 spoons have engraved owners initials G, we assume the original owner. This set has been made by hand, there are slight differences in length, also differences in the shape of the handle, with some having narrower ends. One spoon also has a noticeably larger bowl than the other 5, so perhaps made at a different time. The drop on 2 spoons is also slightly longer, overall interesting but subtle differences between the spoons. The hallmarks also exhibit differences, three spoons are struck with makers mark IC three times, the other three are struck with makers mark IC four times (similar to the English duty dodgers). The orientation of the marks also differs, some are struck vertically and some sideways, so it appears the silversmith struck marks quite randomly. This mark is 29 or mark 30 in the book Cape Silver by Welz, the C is quite close the the I, and has short arms, almost looks like a K. The slightly larger spoon, whic...

A rare set of 8 Scottish provincial silver teaspoons from Perth in the Fiddle and Shell pattern, circa 1830. Five spoons are by James Stobie, the remaining 3 by John Pringle, both worked in Perth at the same time. All are single struck, as is usual for Scottish flatware, and all are engraved with original owners initials JIJ. The shell pattern struck by the 2 different makers is slightly different, so these were struck in different workshops using different moulds (the Stobie shell is flatter and convex, the Pringle shell is more raised and concave). The differences are quite small, not really visible unless closely scrutinised. The Pringle bowls also have slightly narrower bowls and the engraving is not quite as crisp. They also seem to have aged slightly better than the Stobie spoons, so perhaps fractionally better quality? All 8 spoons have clear hallmarks, S, JS, double headed eagle (Perth town mark), JS for the Stobie spoons, and I.P, I.P, double headed eagle, I.P for the Pringle spoons. Both of these ar...

A fabulous set of 12 Victorian sterling silver teaspoons with matching sugar tongs, each of the 13 items has the UK Patent Office Lozenge Diamond registration mark, showing this design was patented. The pattern is a bright cut shell pattern, and is double struck (on both sides), this is a beautiful pattern that will glitter in candlelight. The quality is superb, the spoons around 25 grammes each. The set is perfectly preserved in it's original box, they do not appear to have been used. There is no engraving, these spoons are as pristine as the day they were made. All 13 items are clearly hallmarked with Sheffield Crown, Sterling Lion, date letter Gothic F and makers mark RM/EH in diamond punch, for Richard Martin and Ebenezer Hall, they used this mark between 1881 and 1911 (the firm was established in 1863). In addition, all 13 items have a clear diamond or lozenge registration mark for the British Patent office, this was used between 1842 and 1883, this is the second version of the mark used between 1868 and...

A lovely Queen Anne replica teapot, itself antique as over 100 years old, a faithful copy of the earliest known English silver teapots. The teapot is small, due to the rarity of tea during the period, it would be termed bachelor size today. The teapot is pear shaped, with a domed lid topped by urn finial, stand-away hinge, raised circular foot, and octagonal curved spout. The wooden handle is the traditional shape, with thumb piece for easy pouring. The weight and quality are excellent, this teapot is a pleasure to use. An original teapot, dated 1715 and valued at over GBP 12000, is depicted in the book "Price Guide to Antique Silver, Peter Waldron, page 269, this replica is an almost exact copy. The hallmarks are clear, including makers mark JA for James Aitchison of Princes Street, Edinburgh, Goldsmith to the Queen (Victoria), Prince of Wales and Duke of Edinburgh. Aitchison worked between 1877 and 1910, he was a town councillor, and was involved in the building of Usher Hall. His home in Edinburgh is now t...

A silver "two-cigar" case, with Boer War inscription "Dr Kellner, from a Grateful "Australian" Patient, Bloemfontein, 1900". The Australian is in inverted comma's. The case is well made, good quality and gauge, and quite solid. The interior is gilded, and the hallmarks are clear on both sides of the case. H. Matthews was a large and well known Birmingham firm. Bloemfontein was the capital of the Orange Free State, and was surrendered to the British on 13 March 1900. Thirty thousand British troops entered Bloemfontein, and thanks to poor sanitation a typhoid epidemic broke out, which caused hundreds if not thousands of deaths. Doctors (who included Sir Arthur Conan Doyle) were in short supply, with 3 doctors per 350 patients (Pakenham, The Boer War, pg 382) - which no doubt led to the generosity of our unnamed "Australian". Today Bloemfontein hospital is on Kellner Street, we are not sure if there is a connection.

A Royal Navy & Merchant Services gold and pearl nautical crown sweetheart brooch, with 14 pearls set in 18 Carat gold, the detail of the crown is exquisite, this is a top quality brooch. Both the crown and supporting bar are 18 carat gold, both are clearly hallmarked "18CT". The 18 carat gold is a deep yellow colour, the pin has a reddish tinge, so could be 9 carat (pin is unmarked). The pearls are different sizes, with the largest in the centre of the crown. These sweetheart brooches were popular during both WW1 and WW11, we have tentatively dated it to WW11 (1939-1945) given the style of the box. The brooch is perfectly preserved in it's original box, which reads "Royal Appointment, Gieves Ltd, 21 Old Bond Street, London W1". Gieves (now Gieves & Hawkes) is a prestigious Savile Row Tailor, established in 1771, the hold numerous Royal Warrants, including the Queen, Duke of Edinburgh and Prince of Wales. They have long served the British Army, Royal Navy and the Royal family, clients include Lord Nelson, the...

An interesting German silver gravy boat, both Arts & Crafts and Art Deco in style. The gravy boat is oval with a raised lip, and is on a fixed oval base to prevent drips. Both the boat and base are hand hammered, which creates an appealing texture. The handle is shaped bone, fixed to the boat with attractive silver rivets. The gravy boat is lovely quality, quite heavy, and very well made. The boat is hallmarked with the German silver moon and crown (used post 1888), 925 sterling silver standard mark, and makers mark IA for Josef Arnold. The base is also stamped "Arnold" Josef Arnold (1884 - 1960) worked in Hamburg, Germany, he trained with his father at Bruckmann & Sohne (Art Nouveau & Art Deco Silver, Annelies Krekel-Aalberse, pg 145 and 251). He initially taught in Erbach, Hanau and Hamburg, and opened his own workshop in Hamburg in 1931.

An interesting set of 6 Fiddle pattern tableforks, made in 1815, the year of the battle of Waterloo. The forks are a pleasing weight, and very good quality, they have a lovely feel. The forks are engraved with an interesting family crest, a leopards head with an arrow in its mouth, this is unusually engraved on the back of the forks. The hallmarks are excellent, including date letter U for 1815 and makers mark WE/WF for William Eley & William Fearn, who were leading makers of flatware. We welcome any assistance with identification of the family crest.

Two Victorian silver vinaigrettes, both very similar in shape and design, reflecting the style of the time. Both are oval in shape with a wavy rim, concave sides, both have engine turned engraving, and both have vacant cartouche (for initials or family crest). Both also have an ornate floral grille, and both are gilded. Both also have clear hallmarks on both base and lid, the grille on the Smith example is also hallmarked. The first, by Edward Smith 1845, has an attractive snake shaped thumb piece, the base design is distinctly different from the cover design. The second still has its original sponge. Edward Smith was a specialist boxmaker, he worked between 1827 and 1865. James Cronin and Sarah & George Wheeler worked between 1846 and 1852 from St Pauls Square, Birmingham.

A rare 9 carat gold Currie Cup medallion, issued by the South African Football Association, which would have been presented to winners of the South African Provincial Football Tournament (also called the Currie Cup at that time, today the Currie Cup is a rugby trophy). The medallion is lovely and depicts a springbok and a wildebeest, presumably standing on Robben Island with Table Mountain, Cape Town in the background. The front reads "South African Football Association", the back reads "Currie Cup won by", with the space for the name and the year left blank. The medallion has 4 hallmarks, springbok head in U indicating gold of South African origin after 1948, 9ct for 9 carat gold, date letter Z for 1973 and makers mark "SAM" for South African Mint. Note - We have changed our description (previously we thought this was a rugby trophy tentatively dated 1938) and have now dated this medallion 1973 (Roman Z), the Springbok in U was only introduced for South African gold items in 1948. We have also seen a simi...

A Scottish Provincial Fiddle pattern soup ladle, with exceptionally clear and distinct hallmarks, deeply struck with no wear - these hallmarks are rare. The ladle is a good gauge, very solid, and fit for use, and is engraved with the initial I in contempory style. The bowl has a good shape, with raised edges, a feature of earlier ladles. The hallmarks are makers mark CF, ELGIN, cathedral wall and St Giles. The cathedral hallmark represents the west front of Elgin Cathedral Church (Jackson, pg 601), St Giles is its patron saint. The detail of the hallmarks is very good, with windows, door, double roof and battlements visible in the cathedral, and cloak, nimbus, staff and book visible in St Giles. Charles Fowler worked from 1809-1824, most of his silver is marked ELN (as opposed to ELGIN in full), the combination with the cathedral wall and St Giles is scarce.

A fabulous Arts & Crafts silver child's spoon, with a hedgehog finial, made by Francis Cooper, son of the famous John Paul Cooper, who was one of the leaders of the Arts and Crafts movement. Silver by Francis Cooper is quite rare, and is seldom seen (see www.antiquesilverspoons.co.uk for a beautiful tea strainer by Francis Cooper). The spoon has a well modeled hedgehog finial, mounted on a disc with 6 supports, one support is part of the spoon stem detail. The bowl is hand hammered at the back but smooth in front, with the drop and rat-tail part of the bowl. The spoon is exceptionally well made, and given it's superb gauge is a delight to hold (if you have small hands!). The hallmarks are very clear, and include gothic script FC makers mark and the Queens head Silver Jubilee mark for 1977. Francis Cooper (1906-1980, so this spoon was one of the last he produced) worked for his father as a metalworker from 1924 until his death in 1933. John Paul Cooper was an architect turned metalworker, who headed up metal...

An interesting Scottish silver baby dish, engraved around the rim with 4 ancient scenes, possibly Mesopotamia, we are not sure of the significance. The dish is extremely good quality, it weighs over 300 grammes, and the engraving is lovely. The 4 panels are interspersed with 2 ladies heads, complete with earings, and 2 cartouches for engraved initials. The engraving contains armed soldiers with swords, shields, spears and bow and arrows, animals (some pulling carts and carriages), palm trees and a winged beast, hence our tentative description as Mesopotamian (all suggestions and assistance most welcome). As the engraving is on what we believe to be a baby dish (solid base, size etc), we believe it to be a Christening present, with the engraving from a fable or historically significant event (similar dishes of the period are engraved with nursery rhymes). The hallmarks are excellent, including Glasgow marks for 1931 and makers mark E&S for Edward and Sons, of Buchanan Street, Glasgow, they also had a London br...

An interesting set of 6 Danish silver coin bowls, each with a different 2 Kronor Danish coin. The bowls have a textured gadrooned rope border, and sit on a small circular foot that protects the coins. The bowls are 830 standard silver. The coins range in date from 1875 to 1958, and include: 1. Christian IX 1875, 2. Christian IX 1903, 1863-1903 , 3.Christian IX / Frederik VIII 1906, 4. Christian X 1870-1930, 5. Christian X 1912-1937, 6. Frederik IX Princesse Margrethe 1958. All 6 bowls are clearly hallmarked "SKAARUP 830S". Jacob Skaarup worked in Copenhagen between 1927 and 1948, given one of the bowls is 1958 we assume the business carried on beyond 1948.

A pair of Victorian silver grape scissors, once an essential implement in an upmarket Victorian drawing room, used to cut the stems of a bunch of grapes. This is the rarer type, with traditional scissor blades, as opposed to the more usual 2 wide flat faced blades with a 90 degree angle on one blade, sometimes called grape shears. This set is long and elegant, with a beaded border, and engraved leaf decoration on the back and front, and 2 vacant cartouche's for family crest or initials. The handles are oval rings, and the original steel hinge pin has an attractive circular silver cap with a floral design. The hallmarks are clear, and include makers mark CB on both arms, with date letter C for 1878, London town mark, sterling lion and Victoria duty mark. Charles Boyton & Sons was founded in 1809, and survived until 1933. They were manufacturing silversmiths, they supplied many prestigious retailers locally and internationally. A very similar example is depicted in the book "Millers Silver Buying Guide by Danie...

A mixed set of 6 Cape silver dessert spoons, all in the Fiddle pattern. 2 spoons have original owners engraved initials (HR and WFS), one has the very faint remains of a family crest and engraved initial B, and 3 have no initials or crests. All 6 spoons have very clear Cape silver hallmarks, with no wear, showing quite a lot of different pseudo hallmarks used by Cape silversmiths, so an interesting collection. The first spoon is by Peter Clarke Daniel (PD, pseudo duty, pseudo date letter B, mark 42 in Welz), Daniel was born in Dublin but arrived in South Africa with the 1820 settlers as a child. The second is by John Townsend (JT, pseudo duty mark, date letter a, lion passant and duty mark, mark 123 in Welz). The next 2 are by William Moore (WM, Cape stub mark, Welz mark 100, one spoon also has an incuse D mark, either a journeyman or owners mark). The last 2 are by Lawrence Twentyman but with different hallmarks and made at different times (the Fiddle pattern noticeably different on these 2 spoons). The firs...