A Belgium antique silver matching tablespoon and table fork in the Fiddle and Thread pattern, made in Brussels circa 1832 by leading silversmith Auguste Bonnevie. Both are a pleasing weight, these are good quality items. The pair have an interesting family or city crest engraved on the back, a shield with 4 small crosses surrounding a larger cross, below Royal crown, above "Bruges". The Cross surrounded by 4 crosslets is the Jerusalem Cross, originally used as the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, but since used for various Crusader states, and now used as the Georgian flag. Above the crest original owners initials OI are also engraved. Both spoon and fork have the same 3 hallmarks, very clear makers mark of B below silversmiths hammer in square punch (makers mark 1921 in the book "Belgische Zilvermerken" by R Stuyck, pages 41 and 185), for Auguste Bonnevie. Bonnevie worked from 1814 to 1869 (a long period so possibly father and son), based in Brussels. The second mark is the Minerva head guarantee ma...

A set of 4 George VI Old English pattern dessert forks, made in London by leading makers the Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Company, but with an engraved Ducal crest of the Newton family of Dunleckney, County Carlow, Ireland. The forks are excellent quality and a pleasing weight, and are in excellent condition. The engraved crest of boars head above Ducal coronet (with strawberry leaves) with 2 ostrich feathers is crisply engraved with no wear. All 4 forks have clear hallmarks, including makers mark for Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Company Limited, based in Regent Street from 1880-1952, when they were incorporated into Garrards, the Crown Jeweller. These forks were made a few years after the death of Capt. Sydney Vesey, Kings Royal Rifle Corps (1873-1932), who inherited Dunleckney in 1927, his widow Edith Blanch Vesey sold Dunleckney in 1942. Note - we have spoons with the same family crest, S11388 and S11389.

An interesting pair of Dutch cast silver grape shears (or scissors), modelled as a warrior, in Dutch Zilveren Druivenschaartje. It is a clever design, with one arm showing the front of the warrior holding a spear, wearing a kilt and boots, with plumed helmet, the other arm shows his rear with sword in belt. The finger grips have scrolls, and the shears are the traditional thick wedge shape, in perfect working order. Both arms are hallmarked with the Dutch sword mark (833 standard), used between 1814 and 1905, and one arm has makers mark which appears to be G over LS, which we have not identified (all assistance welcome). Note - We now believe the makers mark is 6/LS for Lieuwe Schoonhoven of Middelstum, Groningen, who worked between 1870 and 1899 (mark 14024, Nederlands Responsibility Marks since 1797).

A pair of early Georgian circular salt cellars, made by David Hennell I, the leading mid 18th century maker of salt cellars. The cellars have undulating gadroon borders, and stand on 3 cast silver shell headed hoof feet, this was the dominant design of salt cellars from 1735-1760, along with the lion mask paw feet variant. Both cellars have original owners engraved initials (possibly PH, but this is worn through polishing). The cellars are hallmarked 2 years apart (1748 and 1750), but are identical in design, and have been a pair for a long time given the style and wear on engraved owners initials. The 1748 cellar is slightly heavier (87 vs 78 grammes), it has 3 clear hallmarks, but no makers mark. The 1750 cellar has 4 hallmarks, including makers mark DH in script under Fleur-de-Lys in shaped shield (Grimwade mark 471), the marks have some wear but are all clearly visible. David Hennell was freed in 1735, he retired in 1773 to become Deputy warden of the Goldsmiths Company, and died in 1785. He described him...

A pair of Indian Colonial salt spoons, made by Hamilton & Co, the "Garrards of India". The spoons are in the Fiddle, Thread and Shell pattern with gilded bowls, and are double struck, and are pleasing quality, and in good condition. The hallmarks are clear on both spoons, makers mark H&Co, Elephant, date letter A and tally marks 2 semi circles, these marks were used 1860-1914 (source www.ascasonline.org, History and Marks of Hamilton & Co). Note the unusual & in the makers mark (quite fat), different makers marks were used by Hamilton over the years, this should assist more precise dating, further research is required. Note: We have matching sifter spoon and sauce ladles.

A brass trench art military cap snuff box, with engraved inscription from the South Staffordshire Regiment, dating back to World War I. The snuff box is realistically modelled in the shape of an Officers cap, these were made from shell casings. The cap visor acts as the thumb piece to open the hinged lid, which is in excellent condition. The top of the cap is engraved "Sergt. Major A. Wilson. 11th. S. Staffs. Regt - 1915." The South Staffordshire Regiment was a line infantry regiment created in 1881, they served in the Anglo Boer War, WWI and WWII. During WWI they served on the Western front, Gallipoli, Egypt, Italy and Dublin (the 1916 Easter Rising). The Regiment raised a total of 18 battalions and was awarded 66 battle honours, 3 Victoria Crosses and lost 6,357 men during the course of the war. The 11th Battalion was a reserve unit formed in Jersey 1914, and was absorbed into training reserve battalion in 1916. We have not been able to trace Sergeant Major Wilson, all assistance appreciated.

A rare and interesting pair of Irish Georgian silver Bright Cut tablespoons, engraved "Wicklow Reg", for the 37th Wicklow Regiment, part of the Irish Militia. The spoons are Old English in shape, with the traditional "Dublin Star" engraved at the top above the oval cartouche with the regimental engraving, and traditional bright cut engraving. One spoon is in very good condition, the second has small dents to the bowl, overall quite pleasing for Regimental silver spoons which often are in poor condition. One spoon has excellent hallmarks, the second spoon has clear makers mark but worn Irish marks, still visible (spoon with good hallmarks has the dents to bowl). John Shiels (or Sheils) had a long career between 1762 and 1790, given these spoons are 1797 it is possible a son took over his punches. 38 Regiments of Irish Militia were established in 1793 (one from each county) after the outbreak of war with France, to free regular soldiers up and to control the Irish rebellion. The 37th Wicklow Regiment first saw ...

A beautiful pair of miniature antique silver pastry servers, well preserved in their original box, made by the prestigious firm of Asprey. The servers are in the Kings Husk pattern, single struck, this is a variant of the Kings pattern without the central honeysuckle decoration, and a husk shell. Both servers are a similar size and shape, one had a flat spade shape blade and the other has a serrated prong front, so quite versatile. The hallmarks on both are very clear, including makers mark CA.GA for Charles & George Asprey, they used this mark between 1892 and 1909. Both servers are also hallmarked "Asprey London", this is very clear. The silk lined leather box reads "Asprey 186 Bond St London". Asprey was founded in 1781, and still operates today with a reputation as one of the world's leading luxury brands, they still trade from Bond Street. They hold numerous Royal warrants, at the time these servers were made they had a warrant from King Edward VII. Note: We have a similar pair, S 1952, but made in 1906...

A set of 4 matching Norwegian silver pickle forks (830 grade) in the Dronning pattern, made in Oslo by leading silversmith Jacob Tostrup. Two forks are larger and 2 are smaller, so perfect for serving larger items like cold meats and smaller more delicate items. The forks have 2 curved tines, and the Dronning pattern reminds us of English Fiddle and Shell pattern. All 4 forks are clearly hallmarked with the Tostrup tankard makers mark, and silver standard mark 830S. The forks have no engraving. Tostrup was founded in 1832, and is still one of Norway's leading silversmiths today

A lovely pair of Irish Georgian silver tablespoons in the Old English pattern, with an engraved family crest for the Newton family of Dunleckney, County Carlow, featuring a Ducal coronet. The spoons are a pleasing quality, and are in excellent condition, the engraving is also crisp and clear. The crest features a boars head above Ducal coronet (with strawberry leaves), with 2 ostrich feathers above the coronet. The spoons are also engraved with owners initials N/GG on the drop. The hallmarks are clear on both spoons, the makers mark JB has wear to one of the J's. John Bayly worked between 1787 and 1804 (Bennett mark 204). These spoons would have been made for Colonel Philip Newton (1770-1833) and his wife Sarah when they inherited the Dunleckney estate in 1802. Note - we have a matching spoon S 11389.

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 Norwegian silver baptism spoon made by leading Norwegian silversmith David Andersen circa 1900, this is a replica of an original 16th century baptism spoon. the quality and workmanship is excellent, as is usual for these Norwegian and Danish baptism spoons. The spoon features a naked female holding fig leaf and plunging a sword into her bosom, standing on an elaborate plinth, finely decorated with faces and foliage. the tear shaped bowl is finely engraved on the back and the front, the front with Norwegian Madonna and Child, the back features Christ on the cross, overlooked by a bishop under a dove, and inscription "HIELP OS DI HELIGE TREI FOLDIG HED M M D 1511", which translates "Help us your holy Trinity". The spoon is clearly hallmarked with purity 830 and David Andersen makers mark, this mark was used between 1888 and 1925. A similar spoon is shown in the book "Collectable Souvenir Spoons Volume II, page 29, by Wayne Bednersh, and also on his website www.spoonplanet.com under Norwegian and Danish silver...

A sterling silver medallion awarded in 1926 as a sporting trophy by Michaelhouse School, one of South Africa's leading schools. The front of the medallion features the school crest of an armoured arm holding the scales of justice, with latin motto "QUIS UT DEUS", translated "Who is like God". The back of the medallion is crisply engraved "High Jump G.W. Boyes 1926", surrounded by a laurel wreath. The medallion is good quality, and has a suspension ring with loop, so it can be worn as a pendant. The medallion is clearly hallmarked for Birmingham 1926, with makers mark for Joseph Daffern, who worked between 1908-1931. George Wroughton Boyes (1910-1986) is today remembered as a first class cricketer who represented the province of Natal, South Africa. Michaelhouse today is a leading South African School, first established in 1896, it was also the inspiration for the book and film Spud.

An interesting pair of Cape silver tablespoons, engraved with an original family crest of winged castle turret below circular cross. The spoons are Fiddle pattern, and are very pleasing quality and weight, the condition is good too, we really like these spoons. The hallmarks are also very clear on both spoons, pseudo duty mark, pseudo castle town mark with flag flying, pseudo date letter C and makers mark LT (mark 140 in Cape Silver and Silversmiths by Welz). Twentyman was the most prolific of all Cape silversmiths, he had the first shop on Heerengracht (now Adderley Street) with a shop window. He worked between 1818 and 1832. Note - With the assistance of a customer, we have now identified the engraved crest as the Heathcote family, described as "On a mural crown, a sphere charged with a cross, between two wings". The spoons probably belonged to Captain William Lovell Heathcote (1802-1885), who was born in Hursley, U.K. and died in Colesburg, Northern Cape, South Africa. He was the son of Admiral Henry Heath...

A rare and interesting American sterling silver souvenir spoon, with gilded detail, retailed in Nome, Alaska during the Nome Gold Rush of 1899-1909. The spoon has beautiful detail, and is excellent quality and condition. The bowl reads "Nome, Alaska, Struck It Rich" and has a gilded prospector panning gold in a stream below a waterfall, gilded elements on American silver souvenir spoons are rare. The handle has a rising sun above NOME, with pan, shovel and pick below, above a canoe with 4 hunters, 2 paddling, one with bow and arrow, and a 4th with harpoon, all wearing furs. The back features a miner tipping pay into a sluice box, above a paddle, bow and arrows and harpoon. The spoon is clearly hallmarked, retailers mark L.W. Suter, makers mark empressed Fleur de Lis in raised triangle for Mayer Brothers of Seattle, Washington, and raised Sterling. Louis Suter was a jeweller and retailer who arrived in Nome in 1900, he prospered and built the leading Jeweller in Nome, with the largest selection of stock in Ala...

A collection of 6 silver South African Military wrist identification tags (dog tags) dating back to World War II, and specifically the campaign in Egypt. They are all wrist identification tags, as 5 still have their original silver wrist chains, we are not sure if they were military issue or if they were purchased privately (we suspect the latter as they all have different designs) We believe them all to be sterling silver, 4 are clearly hallmarked with Egyptian hallmarks, the cat standard mark, and Arabic town marks and date letters (Cairo and date letter I for 1940 are present, amongst others). The 5th is hallmarked "Sterg" for sterling and makers mark HA&S (possibly Henry Allday & Son of Birmingham), and the 6th has a partial mark "ling" which we suspect was Sterling. The 6 tags are as follows: 1- "Maj. D. Macdonald Pres Cameron Highlanders" - with HA&S mark, fob chain, end loop missing. 2- "Lt W.T. Arthur Pres 193790", with ling hallmark, fob chain, end loop missing, solder repairs. 3- "SPR E. Gillespie N...

A beautiful antique French silver 4 piece Hors-Doeuvre serving set, consisting of butter or pate knife, pierced spoon, serving fork and pastry trowel, perfectly preserved in their original box. Both the implements and the handles are 950 grade silver, so higher grade than sterling (925). The matching handles are very ornate in Neoclassical style, the detailed design od architectural elements, scrolls and foliage is raised, so provides extra grip, the detail is superb. Both the spoon and the trowel are finely pierced, and all 4 implements are engraved with scrolls and foliage. All 4 items are hallmarked, both on the blades and the handles, with the French Minerva 1 for 950 grade silver, and diamond makers mark, most of which are poorly struck with only some partially visible, enough is present to see makers mark VH around glaziers diamond (un diamant de vitrier) for Vital Hygonnet, who worked in Paris between 1895 and 1928. Serving sets such as these were very fashionable in France around the turn of the 20th ...

A Dutch silver Hanoverian pattern tablespoon and fork, both made in Middelburg in 1771, but by different makers. Both are clearly hallmarked with the Dutch town mark for Middelburg, a double headed crowned eagle, and date letter H FOR 1771, and both have clearly struck makers marks. Both are first grade silver (87.5 %). The tablespoon is by Johannes d'Hoy, and is the traditional Hanoverian shape, with central frontal rib, turn up end, and a long drop. It is a good quality spoon, well made, with some wear from use, and no engraving. It is bottom marked with 3 hallmarks, the town mark and makers mark are clear, the third mark is worn. The makers mark is ID below a theepot (teapot), d'Hoy worked between 1766 and 1786, he was clearly a talented silversmith, examples of his work can be seen in the Rijksmuseum, as well as Museum Boijmans and Utrecht museum. The fork also has a central front rib with turn up end, 4 tines, and also has no engraving. The makers mark of IW above upside down flower could be one of 2 sil...

A rare and beautiful Tiffany sterling silver melon (or pickle) fork, in the Greek Handle or Greek pattern, made between 1870 and 1891. The pattern has a geometric 3 petalled flower on wavy stalk, the flowers increase in size up the handle. The bowl is long and elegant, with shaped centre tine, the handle is tubular, increasing in diameter towards the top, the end is monogrammed with script initials MEL, we assume the original owner. The fork is clearly hallmarked "Tiffany & Co M Sterling 332", the M was used by Tiffany between 1870 and 1891, to denote Edward C Moore, who headed Tiffany's silver operations. The number 332 is a pattern number. This Greek Handle pattern is extremely rare, and does not feature in many of the Tiffany flatware guides. We have noted 2 other examples, one on the Peter Cameron website, his examples include pickle forks, melon forks and fruit knives, the forks with gilded bowls, he describes this as Greek pattern, dated 1870-1875. The second example is on the Antique Cupboard website, ...

A rare and interesting Cape silver Masking or Mash spoon, in the Old English pattern. The spoon is teaspoon size but has a much longer handle, these spoons are called Masking or Mash spoons, they were used to stir the teapot. Most of the known Masking spoons are Scottish Provincial in origin, but they are known in the Cape (see S189 for a similar example made by Jan Lotter, cousin of Carel David, which we have sold). The spoon has no engraving, and clear makers mark CDL between 2 star devices (Welz mark 64). Carel David Lotter, part of the Lotter family of Cape silversmiths, worked between 1812 to 1848.