A rare and beautiful Arts & Crafts cast silver caddy spoon by Bernard Instone, featuring 2 Great Crested Grebes in a courting ritual. The caddy spoon has a circular planished (hand hammered) bowl, the handle is pierced and engraved to produce the birds embracing along their beaks. This caddy spoon has been previously described as depicting 2 stylized storks, but we are confident it represents the elaborate mating ritual of the Greater Crested Grebe, as confirmed by the KSIA (Keswick School of Industrial Arts) website. The spoon has excellent hallmarks, including makers mark B.I in oval punch for Bernard Instone. Instone (1891-1987) registered his mark in 1922, he studied under Arthur Gaskin and worked for John Paul Cooper. He established Langstone Silver Works in Digbeth, Birmingham in 1919, after 4 years service in the Great War. He was subcontracted to produce silver for Sibyl Dunlop (with her SD makers mark), and also produced silver for Liberty's (source Simon Moore Artists Spoons, page 411). Bernard Inst...

A rare Cape silver dessert spoon in the Kings pattern, made by Lawrence Twentyman. The spoon is excellent quality, as is usual for Cape silver Kings pattern, and has a very pleasing weight. The Kings pattern is double struck (on both sides), and this spoon has not been engraved. The spoon has 5 clear hallmarks, makers mark LT and 4 pseudo hallmarks, all individually struck. They include pseudo lion passant, Georgian duty mark, date letter a and crowned leopards head town mark, this is mark 135 in the book Cape Silver by Stephan Welz. Cape silver Kings pattern was only made by 2 silversmiths in the Cape, Twentyman and Fredrik Waldek, who took over Twentymans' workshops when he left the Cape for India.

A Sampson Mordan silver scent bottle, beautifully engraved with Kate Greenaway images, a girl pulling a smaller girl in a wheeled cart, and another capped girl walking towards a gate, all in front of a brick wall, with a church with spire in the background. The bottle is clearly hallmarked on both the base and the lid. The glass bottle inside is loose and can be removed, it fits exactly into the hole, so we are not sure if it is original or a later replacement. Kate Greenaway was a Victorian artist and writer, her 1879 book "Under the Window" a collection of simple, perfectly idyllic verses about children, was a bestseller. "Kate Greenaway" children, all of them girls and boys too young to be put in trousers, were dressed in her own versions of late 18th century and Regency fashions: smock-frocks and skeleton suits for boys, high-waisted pinafores and dresses with mobcaps and straw bonnets for girls - source Wikipedia. Sampson Mordan became famous for producing high quality, innovative novelty items, many of ...

A Scottish Provincial Tablespoon in the Fiddle pattern, made by Charles Jamieson of Inverness. The spoon has original owners initials FML engraved in script. The spoon has 3 clear hallmarks, makers mark CJ, town mark INS for Inverness, and J mark struck sideways, this is mark IN16 in the book "Scottish Provincial Silversmiths & their Marks by Richard Turner, page 67. Please note the solder marks that denote an old repair to this spoon, only really visible under magnification.

Three sterling silver napkin rings, shooting trophies for the Natal Rifle Association. The first is engraved "The Emma Thresh Trophy, 1929", the second "Murray-Smith Memorial, 1925, 2st Team", and the third "Royston Memorial 1st Team 1928", all three have an applied cast shield "Natal Rifle Association, Semper Paratus, 1862". The hallmarks are clear on all 3 napkin rings, makers mark F.H.A.& Co, for FH Adam and company of Birmingham, this mark was used 1919-1935. The Emma Thresh Trophy itself belongs to the Natal Carbineers, South Africa's senior regiment. The trophy itself is 16 kilograms of silver, and was donated in 1903 by Emma Thresh, as the shooting trophy for Colonial Forces. Lieutenant-Colonel William Murray-Smith of the Natal Mounted Rifles saw distinguished service in both the Boer War and Great war, he was awarded the Companion of the Distinguished Order and Croix de Guerre. He was an excellent shot, and won the Clark Kennedy Challenge Cup at Bisley during Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, he als...

A Scottish Provincial silver Toddy ladle in the Oar pattern, which is a scarce variant of Fiddle pattern (Fiddle without shoulders), only found in Scotland (Pickford, Silver Flatware, pg. 111). The ladle was made by Peter Lambert in Aberdeen, and is engraved with original owners initials RMR in script. The ladle has 3 hallmarks, makers mark PL between 2 thistles, these marks are well struck but blurred, so we assume the punches were worn. The thistle punch has a noticeable indent on the left hand side. Peter Lambert was born in Aberdeen, as was admitted to the Hammermen in 1804. He left Aberdeen in 1813, and subsequently moved from town to town looking for work, he is known to have worked in Dundee, Montrose and Berwick, and had spoons assayed in Newcastle and Edinburgh (Aberdeen Silver by Michael Wilson, page 60, a book we highly recommend).

An interesting Georgian silver wine label, engraved for PORT, with counterfeit hallmarks for London 1814, made by Thomas Robinson, who was convicted for selling counterfeit items in 1822 and transported to Australia in 1823, never to return. The label is rounded rectangular form, with a hob-nail cut border, a domed surmount which is engraved with a leaf and scrolls, incised for PORT. The label has 4 hallmarks, a very blurred duty mark, a slightly blurred lion passant, a very clear date letter T and a partial makers mark TR in oval punch, the T is clear but only the top of the R is visible. Two very similar labels, but engraved for Noyeau and Shrub, are depicted in the article "Mr Robinson's conviction for counterfeit marks", by Bruce Jones, Silver Society Journal 23, 2008, pages 107-110. This fascinating article shows 4 wine labels by Robinson, and compares genuine hallmarks of the period with those used by Robinson, leaving no doubt they are counterfeit. The article shows the same counterfeit date letter T h...

A delightful antique silver swing handled basket with pierced sides, notable for it's very small size, hence our description as miniature. The basket is rectangular, with the 2 long sides curved, so the ends of the basket are higher than the centre. The 4 sides are beautifully pierced and engraved, with scrolls, foliage and flowers, this is a very decorative basket. The swing handle is also decorated, with 7 pierced ovals across the top. The basket is clearly hallmarked, with hallmarks hidden in the decoration, the makers mark is partially blurred, but the heart shaped punch with faint WB over clear Ld is sufficient to confirm the maker as Williams Ltd, who worked between 1902 and 1929. The handle is also hallmarked, and the base is stamped with a registration mark Rd 528841, which shows the design was protected. This basket is too large to be a true toy miniature, but is smaller than a bon - bon basket, it would be suitable for jewelry on a dressing table, or for small sweets.

An interesting antique silver caddy spoon with a camel finial, this is the crest of the Worshipful Company of Grocers, a spice laden camel. The spoon has a pear shaped bowl, the well modelled camel is facing left, to show it is bringing spices from the East. The hallmarks are clear, including makers mark J.N.M for John Newton Mappin, this mark was used between 1887-1897. The spoon is also stamped "Mappin & Webb, London", this is above a cross in circle hallmark, we are not sure the significance of this mark (all assistance welcome). The Worshipful Company of Grocers Company is one of the 12 Great Livery Companies, ranked second in precedence (it was once ranked first, until rumour has it that a camel in a procession released a smell that offended Queen Elizabeth I!) - source Worshipful Company of Grocers website, www.grocershall.co.uk). The Company was founded in 1345 by the Guild of Pepperers, responsible for maintaining spice standards. The 4th Grocers Hall was built in 1890 (unfortunately destroyed by fire...

An early Georgian silver porringer, of generous size, with an engraved family crest of a "Portcullis Chained", for the Porter and Beaufort Somerset families. The porringer is the traditional shape, with a bulbous bowl shape (later examples became straight sided), with plain scroll handles with a thumb piece for improved grip. The porringer is decorated with curved lobes and flutes on the lower body, and has a scale and acanthus cartouche, with the engraved portcullis. A very similar porringer can be seen in the book "Price Guide to Antique Silver" by Peter Waldron, figure 529, page 170, who describes it as a popular design in the times of William & Mary to Queen Anne (1689-1713). The base has 4 hallmarks, lion passant which is clear, crowned leopard's head with slight wear, date letter C with slight wear for 1738, and makers mark BW in oval punch for Benjamin West, who was freed in 1733 and worked until 1750, although he only used this particular punch 1737-1738. The portcullis chained crest appears in Fairb...

A Chinese export silver dessert spoon in the rare Fiddle without shoulders pattern (also called Oar pattern), described by Pickford in his book Silver Flatware as "fairly scarce". The spoon has engraved initial C on the front. The hallmarks are excellent, pseudo lion passant, pseudo crowned leopards head (old punch so lacks clarity), makers mark SS for Sunshing and pseudo duty mark. The makers mark is quite distinct, with t junctions at the end of each letter. Sunshing worked between 1790 and 1830 from New China Street, Canton, he is well known and quite prolific. An examination of other flatware by Sunshing shows he struck hallmarks in a random manner, the order has many different variations (See Chinese Export Silver page 247 for other examples).

An interesting set of 6 cast silver Scottish Provincial silver coffee spoons, made in Inverness in 1961 by John Fraser, but hallmarked in Edinburgh as required by regulations. The spoons have a Viking longboat finial, a Celtic knot at the top and bottom of the stem, which is textured on the front. The spoon bowls are quite flat, and the back of the spoons show how these spoons were cast in a mold rather than hammered or stamped in a press. All 6 spoons are clearly hallmarked for Edinburgh 1961, along with makers mark JF and INS for Inverness. The spoons are in excellent condition, and come in a box without a name which feels to large for them, so probably not the original box. John Fraser traded as Silvercraft from Castle Street, Inverness, he registered his mark with the Edinburgh Assay office in 1960, and worked until 1982. He apprenticed with Medlock & Craik in the 1930's, which was probably interrupted by WW11. He is primarily remembered for silver clan badges, kilt pins and Celtic inspired jewellery, spo...

An Arts & Crafts sterling silver bracelet in Celtic Revival style, made by Stuart Wilson of Skye silver in 1993. The bracelet has 7 cast silver celtic knots in the shape of 2 interlocking hearts, we really like this bracelet. All 7 links are the same, the 2 end links have an additional connecting ring, one side with the clasp attached. All 7 links are individually hallmarked with a full set of Edinburgh marks for 1993, along with makers mark SJW, all the hallmarks are clear. Stuart Wilson was a school teacher based in West Calder, Scotland, he produced silver between 1989 and 1997. His silver was retailed by Skye Silver of the Old School, Colbost, Dunvegan, on the Isle of Skye, the shop is still operating today .

A Victorian silver "Mr. PUNCH" pin tray, small and dainty but with a lot of detail in the design. This design was originally used in 1849 on Punch Magazine, the artist was Richard Doyle (Punch magazine was first published in 1841, some commentators refer to this picture as from the first edition, which is incorrect). The tray is rectangular, with a shell and scroll border, embossed with "PUNCH" above Mr. Punch painting his dog Toby, surrounded by 17 different figures (monkeys, a group of musicians, and someone riding a donkey, even a devil popping out of a cornucopia!). The easel between Punch and Toby is not clear on the front, but can be clearly seen on the back of the tray, we suspect the die was worn when this was produced, rather than wear since then. The tray is stamped out of quite thin silver, and was clearly mass produced as a novelty for the Victorian market where the "Punch and Judy' show was very popular. The hallmarks are clearly struck at the base of the design, including makers mark CSFS for C...

An interesting novelty Victorian silver and enamel advertising vesta case, in the shape of a bell, with a buoy at sea that reads "ASBESTOS", with a warning bell inside the buoy. The asbestos bell buoy is the registered trademark of the Bells Asbestos Co. Ltd, which in it's day was one of the largest asbestos companies in the world. The vesta case has a spring loaded opening on the base, this also has the traditional vesta striking strip, note the silver ball clanger we have seen on other examples is missing. The vesta has a suspension loop, with hallmarked suspension ring at the top. The vesta and the lid are both clearly hallmarked, makers mark J.A &S is very clear, this has been described as J Aitken and son by some sources, but we think this unlikely as they only worked between 1903 and 1918, so we prefer to say the maker has not been identified yet (all assistance welcome). A similar vesta was part of the Christies specialist vesta sale 8876 (22 September, 2000), lot 14, which was displayed on the front ...

A Georgian Scottish silver Celtic Pointed pattern tablespoon, made by James Hewitt in Edinburgh in 1784. The spoon is bottom marked and features the incuse Georgian duty mark, which was only used in 1784 and 1785. The spoon has original engraved initial K in script. The hallmarks on bottom marked spoons are often squashed and distorted, but all 5 hallmarks on this spoon are well struck and clear, they could not be better. They include makers mark J.H in script, used by Hewitt between 1769 and 1784, although he had a long career, being freed in 1760, and still apparently working in 1824 (perhaps a son?). The Edinburgh castle, Scottish thistle and date letter E are all clear, as is the incuse Georgian duty mark, only introduced in 1784.

A Cape silver snuff box by William Moore, who was previously thought to have only produced flatware, so this is a rare example. The snuffbox is the traditional rectangular shape, plain except for the engraved lid with scrolls and flowers around an irregular cartouche, which has never been engraved. The box also has a cast silver thumb piece, also with flowers and scrolls, and the interior is gilded. The box is lovely quality and a pleasing weight (81 grams). Both the lid and the base are clearly hallmarked, the lid with makers mark W.M only, the base has 5 hallmarks, 4 pseudo English hallmarks arranged around the W.M makers mark. These include pseudo Georgian duty mark, pseudo crowned leopard's head town mark, pseudo date letter a and a 4th indistinct mark, possibly another head shaped duty mark. William Moore usually used a WM mark without dot, so this is a different punch, it is recorded on the website www.capesilvermarks.co.za. The pseudo date letter a is regularly seen on Cape silver, used by silversmith...

A fabulous pair of Rat-tail Hanoverian Pattern serving implements, consisting of a basting spoon and 3 pronged serving fork. These are modern reproductions of an 18th century design, but the quality is superb, they are a pleasure to hold and use. No engraving is present on either item. Both are clearly hallmarked with 5 hallmarks, these are large hallmarks and have been carefully placed, to be part of the overall design. The hallmarks include makers mark AHN in inverted heart punch for Anthony Haviland-Nye, he worked between 1968 and 2003, "specialising in high class 18th century reproduction silver" (source William Walter Antiques). The remaining marks include lion passant, London leopards head town mark and 925 sterling standard mark, note the hallmarks have been struck in a different order, and one 925 mark is struck at right angles. The last mark, which shows the bust of Queen Elizabeth wearing a crown looking right, in a dome topped punch, could be mistaken as a duty mark, but is actually the Golden Jubi...

A pair of Irish Georgian silver tableforks in the Fiddle pattern, made in Dublin in 1825 by Thomas Farnell and retailed by Law, with an interesting hallmarking anomaly, showing 2 different date letters for the same year. The first fork has date letter capital E in oval punch, the second fork has date letter small e in shaped punch, this change took place mid way through the hallmarking year on 20 September 1825 (we are not sure why, all assistance welcome). Whilst both forks were made by the same maker in the same year, very small differences in shape and length of Fiddle can be observed, so these were made by hand. Both forks are engraved with a Griffins head family crest on the rear of the forks, this is crisply engraved and very clear. In addition, both forks have engraved letter T on the front of the forks at the bottom of the handles, we presume to denote a previous owner. Both forks are also stamped with retailers mark LAW, William Law were Dublin retailers in Castle and Sackville streets, they operated...

An interesting Georgian silver caddy spoon, with an embossed and engraved bowl, and a bifurcated handle. This is an unusual design, we have not seen anything similar in the literature, including the book "Caddy Spoons an Illustrated Guide" by John Norie. The bowl is circular, with a central embossed shell, with 2 embossed scrolls on either side, and a central engraved oval, finely engraved with flowers, with additional engraving completing the design The top half of the bowl also has additional foliage around the edge. The bifurcated handle has a central shield shaped cartouche for initials or family crest, this has not been engraved, but the rest of the handle has attractive engraving. The spoon is unfortunately quite light and thinly made, and given the bifurcated handle is prone to damage - note our condition report of a previous repair and 2 splits to the bowl. The hallmarks are clear, makers mark JL in rectangle without pellet for John Lawrence & Co, this mark was used between 1813 and 1818, note the mak...