The General Smuts Cup, a sterling silver shooting trophy awarded to Captain W. Marks of Belfast in 1950. The trophy is a small circular bon-bon dish, on a raised circular foot, with irregular rim featuring scrolls. The dish has an applied silver badge of the SANRA (South African National Rifle Association), of a jumping springbok below crossed rifles, and above a laurel wreath, surrounded by engraving "Capt. W. Marks Belfast, Genl. Smuts Cup 1950". The rim of the foot is also engraved, this is very small and barely visible, it reads "M. Tiger, Bloemfontein", we assume the trophy was re-awarded at a later date. The dish is clearly hallmarked on the base for Birmingham 1939 by Charles Green & Co, given it is engraved 1950 we assume it's use was delayed by World War II. Belfast is a small town in the North East of South Africa, primarily known for coal mining and trout fishing. Field Marshal Jan Smuts (1870-1950) was the Prime Minister of South Africa during World War II, he had a strong friendship with Winston ...

A beautiful Norwegian silver replica of a 17th century figural spoon, which makes an ideal Christening present for a girl. The spoon has a well modelled cast finial of a bust of a female warrior, complete with armour, standing on a pedestal decorated with a feeding bird, masks, flowers and scrolls. The traditionally shaped bowl is gilded, the gilding still well preserved. The quality of this spoon is outstanding, clearly made by a master craftsman, and the condition is excellent. The spoon is hallmarked with makers mark MH and grade 830S, so we can date this spoon to prior to 1920, when Norwegian silversmiths moved to the sterling 925 standard. Marius Hammer (1847-1927) was one of Norway's leading silversmiths, employing 130 staff in 1914, they even supplied the Prince of Wales. In addition to high end souvenirs, they produced replicas of notable Scandinavian silver, including this spoon.

A very interesting American sterling silver Arts & Crafts ladle, made by W. Depp in the 1950's. The ladle is the traditonal shape, but has 2 bars that join in a loop for the handle, with the base of the handle wrapped in a thick silver wire, we love this design! The bowl has been shaped by hand with a pouring lip on the side, so well suited for gravy, cream or even a toddy (the shape and size is very similar to Scottish silver toddy ladles). The ladle is clearly hallmarked with makers mark W Depp in a triangle (looks like V V rather than W), alongside "Hand Wrought" and "Sterling". W Depp is a mystery to us, he (or she) did produce some modernist hand wrought sterling silver jewellery, we have not been able to find any other flatware by this maker, or information about them (all assistance welcome). Note 1 July 2024 - Thanks to assistance from Susan who has a very similar ladle, we have identified the silversmith as Wesley Depp (1922-2002), of Saranac Lake, New York. Wesley was the son of John Depp and start...

A very interesting Norwegian silver Liberation spoon, made to commemorate the liberation of Norway from German occupation at the end of the Second World War. The spoon has a stylised well built male in Art Deco style with arms aloft holding a circular shield, with the Norwegian crown on a radiating 4 leaf clover, the figure has broken the chains of oppression which connect with the bowl. The circular bowl is embossed "NORGE 1945, BRUTT BLEV LENKER BAND OG TVANG", translated "Broken were chains, ties and constraints", a line taken from Ibsen's Peer Gynt. The back of the spoon is plain, and the hallmarks are clear - makers mark NM, 830.S (830 grade silver), goblet (makers symbol), letter N and MADE IN NORWAY. This particular spoon was made in two different sizes, this is the smaller version, suitable for use as a sugar or jam spoon. Thorvald Marthinsen Solvvarefabrikk was based in Tonsberg. Note: We have sold the larger version of this spoon, S 1721.

A British Bulldog Club sterling silver trophy table fork, which is engraved "Dublin 1911 The Quakeress". The fork features a well modelled bulldog head, above legend "THE BRITISH BULLDOG CLUB". The fork is based on a single struck Kings pattern, but was specially commissioned by the club who wanted to present a more useful trophy than a medal. The club was established in 1892, and still operates today (although I doubt they still have such beautiful silver fork trophies!). The hallmarks are clear, this spoon was made in Birmingham in 1911 by J.A. Restall & Company, who specialized in medals and trophies. Note: We have another example of this Bulldog Club fork, S 11401.

An Art Deco Sterling silver trophy, beautifully engraved with the crest of the Transvaal Scottish Regiment, and unusually for Regimental silver, in excellent condition. The trophy stands on its original wooden base, with circular plaque with makers mark Mappin & Webb. The trophy is small but beautifully proportioned, with Art Deco handles. The engraving is also very crisp and clear, the hallmarks are also clearly visible. The Transvaal Scottish Regiment was established in 1902 at the end of the Anglo Boer war by John Murray, 7th Duke of Atholl, original members were Scottish volunteers. They served with distinction in both World Wars, including El Alamein. They still exist today, but in 2019 were renamed the Solomon Mahlangu Regiment, to reflect South Africa's freedom struggle. The regiment still wears Murray of Atholl Regimental tartan.

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.

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 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 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.

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 ...

An 18 carat white gold, diamond and enamel sweetheart brooch, for the Intelligence Corps. The brooch has 23 diamonds, 10 each in the supporting laurels either side and 3 in the crown. The brooch has red, green and blue enamel, all in perfect condition. The badge has a Union (or Tudor) rose, red with white centre, underneath the crown of George VI, so we can date this badge to WW II. The rose rests on 2 diamond studded laurel wreaths, above blue "Intelligence Corps" scroll. The brooch is clearly hallmarked 18CT for 18 carat gold, the pin is an identical colour, so we believe it is 18 carat white gold as well. The brooch also has an engraved number 36047, and scratch engraving numbers and letters, these are manufacturers marks. The Intelligence Corps of the British Army gathers, analyses and disseminates military intelligence, it was formed in 1914 at the onset of WW1, and is staffed by mostly officers. During WW2 members were deployed in France as part of SOE, in Africa with the Long Range Desert Group, and at...

A Boer War antique silver sweetheart brooch, that reads "S Africa 1900-2". The brooch has a realistically modelled Lee Enfield rifle with hanging strap, with applied circular pierced badge, which also features the English rose, Welsh leek and Scottish thistle. The brooch has a pin clasp (note pin has an old repair where it has been re-soldered onto the rifle), it also has a detachable chain with hanger shaped safety pin, to prevent the brooch being lost. The back of the rifle is clearly hallmarked for Birmingham 1901/2, with makers mark WL, in 2 shields, for William Light who worked between 1895 and 1912.

A set of 6 Norwegian silver cake forks in the Lilje (Lily) pattern, made by one of Norway's leading silversmiths, Magnus Aase, circa 1939. The forks are in the 830 silver grade, and their quality is excellent, they are also a pleasing size and weight (25 grammes each), so very suitable for use. The Lily pattern was designed by Trigve Eriksen in 1939, described as a simple yet elegant expression of the Lily, typical of the artistic style of the 1930's. This pattern is still produced today by Arven, described as one of their most popular patterns, they descend from Theodor Olsen, Magnus Aase, Marius Hammer, Jacob Tostrup and the Lohne brothers (www.arven.no). The hallmarks are clear on all 6 forks, and include 830S standard mark, MA makers mark, NM for "Norsk Monster" (patent) and N , possibly a date letter.

An antique sterling silver napkin ring with an applied cast silver bulldog, very realistically modelled, and engraved "S.A. Bull Dog Club", for South African bulldog club. The napkin ring is circular, and is clearly hallmarked with makers mark M&W for Mappin & Webb, with Sheffield hallmarks for 1909. The South African Bulldog club was formed in May 1908 and still exists today, see their Facebook page. We assume this napkin ring was commissioned by the original members as prizes.

A British Military World War II Silver Chaplain's Chalice Set (an identical pair, but one is sterling silver and the other is silver plate). The Chalices are a standard design dating back to the 17th century, with a semi spherical bowl, a knobbed baluster stem (designed for grip with thumb either above or below), and a circular domed foot with a rim. Both chalices are engraved with a cross, and are on the small size, so probably designed for travel. The silver plated chalice has a gilded interior, the gilding is good. Whilst both chalices appear identical, the sterling silver one is heavier (171 grams vs 142 grams for the plated version. Both chalices are clearly marked with the broad arrow (sometimes called crows foot or pheon), this mark is associated with the War Department, but has a history that dates back to Henry VIII and the establishment of the Board of Ordnance by Sir Philip Sydney, originally to mark supplies to the Royal Navy. In 1875 the symbol was listed in the Public Stores Act, and was used to...

An interesting and beautiful Border Rifles Kelso antique Gold Shooting Fob Medallion, awarded to Corporal J Bennie for "Do-Or-Die Champion Cross". The fob features crossed rifles on a heart shaped background, surrounded by an oval frame under a crown, the front is engraved "Border Rifles Kelso 1904", the back is engraved "Won By Corpl J. Bennie Do-Or-Die Champion Cross", The fob also has 3 round pellets to complete the decoration, and a suspension ring with link, which is also hallmarked for 9 carat gold. The hallmarks are clear, makers mark WHH, 9 and .375 nine carat gold standard marks, Birmingham anchor and date letter e for 1904. We believe this fob refers to the Kelso Company of the Kings Own Scottish Borderers Regiment, now part of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. At the time this fob was awarded they had just returned from service in South Africa during the Boer war. Kelso is a Scottish border town in Roxburghshire, famous for Kelso Abbey. Sir Walter Scott attended school in Kelso, he described it as "...

An interesting set of 3 Witwatersrand Agricultural Society Rand Easter Show Sterling Silver Medallions, all presented to J.B. (Barry) Orpen, of Bar Circle Brahmans, in 1961, 1962 and 1964. The first 2 were awarded to "J.D.H. Lady Jake Manso for Champion Brahman Cow/ Heifer", the 1964 was awarded to "Bar Circle 3/61 for Reserve Champion Brahman Cow/ Heifer". All 3 are well preserved in their original boxes, all marked W.A.S. on the lid, one with RMP on interior, the others with SAM interior (Royal Mint Pretoria became South African Mint in 1941, so possibly a replacement box). This medallion is described by Laidlaw as number 0144c (www.southafricanmedals.com, a site we highly recommend)he describes "Obverse: Horse, cow and calf, sheep and pig in a field flanked by sheaths of corn, behind on right, vintage car and steam engine, in the distance mine head works and chimney, radiant sun on the horizon. Legend on a ribbon above: "WITWATERSRAND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY" with two small crosses at the top on each side. At...