An interesting and practical silver double stamp case, with a twin stamp compartment that swivels into a rectangular case, for easy access and carrying. The case has an engraved linear design, and ring attachment for attachment to a Albert chain. The interior compartment swivels on a pin, has a pin and hole clasp to hold it shut, and a thumbpiece for easy opening, an ingenious design. The box is clearly hallmarked, but the makers mark J&W is worn. The box is also stamped "PAT APPd FOR 18816", which indicates the makers had applied for a patent to protect their design. One of the most practical stamp cases we have seen, we really like this box.

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 Cape silver konfyt fork, in the Old English pattern with feather edge decoration and 3 tines, dating it around 1790 to 1800. The fork is struck with a makers mark only, i:V:G in an unusual shaped punch, which moulds around the dotted i. This fork matches S 1787, the main difference being longer tines (we believe original, these have not been shortened) and a makers mark that is good but not as clearly struck as the other. Welz describes this maker as unknown, but Heller (History of Cape Silver Vol I, pg 163) lists this maker as Johann Voigt? Both authors depict a different IVG punch from this one, with an additional fish hallmark (see our tablespoon S 1571 by the same maker to see the different punch and fish hallmark). Overall we agree with Welz and are not convinced by the attribution to Voigt, it seems far more likely to belong to a "van G" maker (for example van Graan, a known Cape name). Overall an interesting hallmark that requires further research. Note - a matching konfyt fork by the same maker is a...

A pair of Art Deco silver serving spoons, made by the German firm of Lutz & Weiss in Pforzheim, circa 1930. The spoons have the classic Art Deco pyramid pattern design, repeated on both sides, and an unusual but very practical 4 sided bowl, with rounded edges and a pointed front. The hallmarks include 835S indicating silver of 835 purity, makers mark of intertwined LW in a shield, and a Dutch import mark used since 1906 (V in shaped shield with shaded background), indicating the spoons must have been imported into the Netherlands at some stage. Both sets of hallmarks are clear. Lutz & Weiss Silberwarenfabriek was founded in 1882.

A private die silver spoon featuring a King Protea, South Africa's national flower. The pattern is single struck, and contains a well modelled King Protea on the end of the spoon, the stem is decorated with a triple ribbed pattern with bands, ending in a diamond shape at the spoon bowl. We imagine this is a rare pattern, probably a special commission for a South African event or for a family with South African ties (all suggestions welcome). The hallmarks are clear, and include makers mark R.C for William Comyns & Sons, a firm that dates back to 1856, and still exists today. They are an important firm, their archive contains over 30 thousand patterns (in the V&A), they made all the coronets for the Queen's coronation. The spoon also has an additional hallmark in a very strange place, at the back of the spoon where the stem joins the bowl, this mark is circular and contains 3 C's in a pattern, we have now established the 3 back to back C's is a trademark used exclusively by William Comyns & Sons (Culme, Direct...

A sterling silver caddy spoon, with the engraved armorial of the South African Mint (Suid-Afrikaanse Munt). The spoon is substantial, a pleasing weight and good quality. The armorial has the coat of arms of the Union of South Africa (1910-1961), with the symbols of the 4 provinces (Hope with Anchor for the Cape, 2 wildebeests for Natal, orange tree for Orange Free State, and wagon for Transvaal), with motto "Ex Unitate Vires", translated Union is Strength. This is surrounded by 2 wreaths with South African Mint in both English and Afrikaans (the 2 official languages at the time), a building which we think could be the SA Mint building, and strangely a small armorial which appears to be the old Transvaal Republic coat of arms. (explanations welcome!). This spoon is identical in shape and form to the caddy spoon produced by the Pretoria Royal mint between 1923 and 1941, (see examples on our website, S1362 and S 1652), when the Mint became the South African Mint, with the armorial replaced to reflect the change ...

A charming Dutch silver miniature foot stove, also called a foot warmer. The stove is bucket shaped, circular with a swing handle, and has an engraved 6 pointed star on top, with 6 holes on each star point, and a central flower shaped hole. This is surrounded by a zig zag pattern, repeated on the sides (top and bottom), the engraving is done by hand and is a little crude. The aperture on the side (for loading wood or coals) is also shaped in an eight pointed pattern. The base has one hallmark, a makers mark, Z2, for Karel Nicolaas zur Muhlen (mark 22153, in the book Netherlands Responsibility Marks since 1797).Muhlen worked between 1895 and 1905, he moved between Roosendaal, Alkmaar, Arnhem and Hertogenbosch. The handle ring is struck by the Dutch silver dagger, used between 1814 and 1953 on small items. A similar Dutch silver miniature foot stove is depicted in the book "Tall and Small, Antique Dutch Silver Miniatures by Aardewerk, item 40, this one made in 1771 in Amsterdam by Jan Bonket.

A Bateman silver Crescent shaped Port wine label, with armorial above engraved "PORT". The label has a double reeded edge, and 2 eyelets for connection to original chain. The label is quite small and dainty, and an elegant shape. The hallmarks are clear (duty mark, sterling lion and date letter t for 1794) but the makers mark is only partially struck on the edge of the label (very clear PB, and only tip of AB underneath visible). The Bateman family of silversmiths were the leading exponents of the crescent shaped wine label (Wine Labels 1730-2003, pg 62).

A Canadian Coin silver tablespoon pair in the Fiddle pattern, with engraved initial H. The spoons have excellent hallmarks, comprising of makers mark IM, NB for New Brunswick, and pseudo hallmarks lion passant, anchor and Georgian duty mark bust (this last one sideways). Canadian Maritime silversmiths of the early 19th century favoured imitation hallmarks, dictated by competition from imported English silver. St John silversmiths adopted the NB hallmark for New Brunswick, following their colleagues in Halifax (Langdon, pg 22). John Munro was born in 1791, and freed in 1813, he took over his father's shop in 1819. His premises were destroyed twice by fire, first in 1837 and again in 1874. He used a number of different pseudo marks, and also used IM and JM as makers marks (Donald Mackay, Silversmiths and Related Craftsmen of the Atlantic Provinces, page 107). Note - we earlier attributed this makers mark to James Melick, see details below, based on the book "Canadian Silversmiths 1700-1900, published 1966, pag...

An interesting Arts & Crafts silver 2 pronged fork, hallmarked by Harry Warmington of the Guild of Handicraft, run by the Hart's of Chipping Campden. The fork has 2 flat tines, with shaped ends replicating an earlier style, the handle has 2 bumps, similar to Scottish Fiddle pattern of the 18th century. The fork is hand hammered, as you would expect from this studio, with individual hammer marks visible, and is engraved with initial T (also done by hand). The fork has a pleasant feel, and would be very suitable for serving cold meats. Harry Warmington was "an integral member of the Guild of Handicraft workshop for some 50 years, he was one of the best silversmiths to have worked in Campden, he was also a fine engraver. Despite his abilities, he never applied to become a Freeman of the Goldsmith's Company",quote from the book "The Harts of Chipping Campden, pg 31. Harry was recruited by George Hart in 1912 from the local grammar school, he joined the infantry in 1914 on the outbreak of World War I, then the Roy...

A set of four Early Georgian Dutch silver Hanoverian pattern tablespoons, made in Amsterdam in 1754 by Andries Vis. The four tablespoons (also called porridge spoons by the Dutch) have a central rib, and a very strong upturn, enough so it can hang from a finger. The spoons also have a double drop, with a prominent pip at the end of the second drop. The hallmarks are good on all 4 spoons, and include makers mark of a fish for Andries Vis, rampant lion with crown indicating first standard silver (925 sterling quality), town mark for Amsterdam (three crosses under crown) and date letter U for 1754. Andries Vis worked between 1741 and his death in 1799, he is known for his cast figural spoons. He was a very competent silversmith, in addition to spoons he produced teapots and other hollow-ware. His silver is well represented in museum collections, a very similar spoon to these is in the Boijmans museum.

A Scottish Provincial silver Fiddle pattern dessert spoon, by a very rare maker, with excellent hallmarks. The spoon is engraved with initial F in contemporary style, a single initial as is often the case in Scotland. The hallmarks are excellent, well struck and very clear, and include makers mark CT, Gothic A, incuse Fleur De Lys, Gothic A, makers mark CT, for Charles Torchetti, who worked in Aberdeen from 1825 until his death in 1840. In the book "Aberdeen Silver" by Michael Wilson, he is described as a "rare maker, with occasional Fiddle pattern spoons and forks". He was described as a picture framer, optician and looking glass maker in the Aberdeen Trade Directory (Wilson pg 34), he worked from Queens Street. Wilson also notes that Alexander Grant used the same Gothic A and incuse Flear De Lys, and that they came from the same punch, so surmises that Torchetti bought spoons from Grant and applied his own makers mark. The provenance of this spoon is also interesting, it has spent the last 40 years as part...

A pair of Cape silver Fiddle pattern table forks, with traditional pseudo English hallmarks, which are clear on both forks. 5 hallmarks are present (Welz mark 4 in his Cape silver book, although struck in different order), they include makers mark LB, pseudo lion passant (quite fat with "camel hump"), pseudo Georgian duty mark, pseudo 3 turreted castle town mark (copy of Edinburgh town mark), and date letter a (which is struck upside down). Lodewyk Beck worked between 1847 and 1867 from Shortmarket Street and Greenmarket Square (still a vibrant market today), he was one of 6 Cape silversmiths who used pseudo English hallmark punches.

A fine set of 12 Victorian Scottish silver table forks, in the plain Old English pattern, these forks have a very good weight and feel in the hand. The forks are engraved with the original owners initial A with a typical Victorian flourish. The forks are in excellent condition, with long tines, these forks have not seen much use. All 12 forks have excellent hallmarks that are well struck and very clear, event Queen Victoria's hair is visible in the duty mark. The town mark also has clearly defined bird, bell and fish in the tree, the coat of arms of Glasgow. Robert Gray and Sons of Glasgow produced "some of the finest British silver of the period" (Walter Brown, Finial, June 2006).

A large silver lighthouse caster, retailed by James Robinson of Park Avenue, New York. The caster is the traditional lighthouse shape, a design that originated in the late 17th century. This is a replica of an earlier style, but extremely good quality and weight. It has attractive stylised cross and flower piercing, and scrolling cut card decoration on both the base and top (cut card decoration is an extra silver soldered plate, which adds weight and a pleasing decoration, a technique pioneered by the Huguenots circa 1700). The caster has the traditional bayonet locking mechanism, which securely holds the 2 pieces together. Both base and top have a gadrooned rim, which aids grip and also adds a nice decorative touch. The base is circular and spreading, which has preserved the hallmarks underneath. The caster also has a baluster finial, and a rib on the main body which also aids grip. In addition to the London hallmarks for 1959, the caster is stamped "James Robinson INC New York, Made in England". James Robin...

A sterling silver quaich, in the traditional form with engraved lug handles, sitting on a raised ring foot. The engraving on the handles is quite attractive, a repeated geometric pattern. This is a really solid and good quality quaich, most we see are much lighter (this is over 200 grammes), and in excellent condition. The hallmarks are clear, and include the Jubilee mark used in 1934 and 1935 to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of King George V and Queen Mary, and the base is engraved "Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Company, 112 Regent St". Quaich's have Scottish origins, dating back to the 17th century when they were used as marriage cups (Price Guide to Antique Silver, Waldron, pg 351), they are also used for traditional whisky tasting and are also used as Christening presents. Inverness, the capital of the Scottish Highlands, is regarded as the spiritual home of the quaich, about half of known antique Scottish quaich's originated there (Fothringham, Small Inverness Quaichs, Antique Collector April 1973, pg 73). ...

A Coin silver American tablespoon in the Fiddle pattern, made by A F Burbank in Boston, Massachusetts, made around 1853. The spoon is the usual American Fiddle pattern, quite different to English Fiddle pattern, with flat broad handle and pointed bowl. The spoon has very clear hallmarks, A.F. Burbank. and Boston, which are both well struck and very clear. This is the earlier Burbank mark, the later one is incuse, hence we believe this spoon was made early in his career. The spoon has a 3rd hallmark, a very small swan in oval punch (tiny but very clear), this is a French import mark used between 1893 and 1970, indicating legal fineness, so this spoon spent some time in France (Tardy, international Hallmarks, pg 208). The term "Coin Silver" is used for American silver flatware made before 1870 that is not Sterling, slightly lower grade at 90% silver (sterling is 92.5%), made from melted coins, prior to discovery of silver in the USA.

A Cape silver konfyt fork, in the Old English pattern with feather edge decoration and 3 tines, dating it around 1790 to 1800. The fork is struck with a makers mark only, i:V:G in an unusual shaped punch, which moulds around the dotted i. This mark is well struck, and is clearly different from the I:VG mark depicted in Cape Silver by Welz (mark 170, pg 158), the key differences being the shaped punch above i and the second : between the V and G. Welz describes this maker as unknown, but Heller (History of Cape Silver Vol I, pg 163) lists this maker as Johann Voigt? Both authors depict a different IVG punch from this one, with an additional fish hallmark (see our tablespoon S 1571 by the same maker to see the different punch and fish hallmark). Overall we agree with Welz and are not convinced by the attribution to Voigt, it seems far more likely to belong to a "van G" maker (for example van Graan, a known Cape name). Overall an interesting hallmark that requires further research. Note - a matching konfyt fork ...

A lovely set of 12 Art Deco Dutch silver knife rests, in excellent condition and a very pleasing weight. They are classic angular Art Deco design, quite pleasing on the eye. All 12 are hallmarked with makers mark V over half moon, and the Dutch silver single sword mark (1906-1953), used on small work. This is the makers mark of Zilverfabriek Voorschoten, a mark used by Koninklijke Van Kempen & Begeer, founded in 1764 and still in existence today. These knife rests would also be suitable for sushi chopsticks.

A Danish silver Skonvirke (Arts & Crafts) pastry or cake server, made by the respected Danish silversmith Evald Nielsen in 1925. The server is the No 4 pattern, which has organic flowing scrolls in relief, so quite pleasing to hold. The server is hand hammered, with the planish marks visible on the blade and the stem. The blade is nicely shaped, and has a raised lip which increases away from the pointed tip, so very practical to use. The server is 830 grade silver, as is usual for Danish silver. The well struck hallmarks include "Evald Nielsen" in an attractive script, with "No 4" indicating pattern, date letter "ANNO 1925", the letter "S" surrounded by dots in shaped punch for silver, and "830" in oval punch surrounded by dots for grade of silver. Evald Nielsen worked between 1905 and 1958 from Copenhagen, he designed all his own designs (as opposed to his contemporary Georg Jensen). He won numerous awards internationally, and his silver can be seen in numerous museums, including the Metropolitan in New York...