An interesting 17th century style silver notched 2 pronged fork, a replica of the earliest known English table fork. The fork has 3 notches at the top of the stem, a rare feature seen occasionally on puritan spoons. it also has 2 family crests, the top a griffiths head and wings, the Montagu family crest, the second is a peacock in pride, the crest of John Manners, 8th Earl of Rutland of Haddon Hall, the owner of the original fork. The original, made in 1632, is known as the Manners Fork, and is in the V&A museum in London. This fork is a good gauge, very pleasing to use, we tested it on cold meats and olives! The hallmarks are excellent, and include the optional Jubilee mark, used in 1934 and 1935. A real talking point for your dinner table. Note: - we now have another example of this fork, S 1808, in original box.
An interesting armorial silver spoon, with armorial of Robert Burns, who is widely regarded as the National Poet of Scotland, also "Scotland's Favourite Son", also voted "Greatest Scot of all Time" (Wikipedia). Burns night is celebrated on 25 January, with haggis on the menu, and the singing of "Auld Lang Syne". The armorial features a seeded holly bush, under shepherds pipe and crook, with a woodlark perched on a sprig of bay tree, and "Wood Notes Wild" from Milton's Allegro. The bottom of the shield has the motto "Better a wee bush than nae bield" (a small bush is better than no shelter at all), which Burns used to seal his letters.
An interesting 17th century style silver notched 2 pronged fork, a replica of the earliest known English table fork. The fork has 3 notches at the top of the stem, a rare feature seen occasionally on puritan spoons. The original, made in 1632, is known as the Manners Fork, and is in the V&A museum in London. The original belonged to the Rutland family of Haddon Hall, and has the crest of John Manners, 8th Earl of Rutland. This fork is a good gauge, very pleasing to use, we tested it on cold meats and olives! The hallmarks are excellent, and include makers mark FH for Francis Howard, the firm worked between 1900 and 1986. A real talking point for your dinner table. Note: - we now have another example of this fork, S 1808, also in original box
A silver figure depicting "The Trusty Servant" of Winchester College, one of the oldest and most prestigious of English public schools. The figure is well engraved, with lovely detail. A picture of the Trusty Servant hangs in the kitchen of Winchester College. The figure is dressed in Windsor uniform and wig, and has a pigs head, donkey ears, padlocked jaw, deers feet, sword and collection of household implements. These refer to "desirable attributes of a servant", padlocked jaw (to keep secrets), stags feet (swift errands), household implements (to work hard) and sword (to protect master). We are not sure what the figure was intended for (it has no stand or attachments), but is probably intended as a bookmark, or could be added to a trophy or adapted as menu holder.
Lovely set of Art Deco cakeforks, of good quality and gauge, suitable for everyday use. The town, sterling and date marks are clear on all forks, the makers mark is poorly struck and only faintly visible, but still identifiable as Lanson Ltd, who used this mark between 1933 and 1961.
A lovely set of replica laceback rattail trefid spoons, decorated in traditional style, both on the front of the stems and the back of the bowls. The rattail is ribbed, the scrolls are elaborate, and the terminals have the traditional notched pattern. These spoons are Brittania standard (950 grade vs. 925 of sterling), as is often the case with early 20th century replica silver. These spoons are very good quality, and the hallmarks are very clear on all 6 spoons.
Art Deco sugartongs with a classic cast silver deco design on both arms. The tongs are well made, and feel heavy and solid to hold. The hallmarks are clear, and a facsimile Charles Boyton signature is also present. Boyton broke away from the family firm of Charles Boyton & Sons Ltd in 1934, setting up his own business emulating Omar Ramsden in the "decorative style". A number of pieces by Charles Boyton are featured in the book " A Personal Touch - The Seawolf Collection, late 19th and 20th century silver, pages 126-130", published by Museum Boijmans van Beuningen Rotterdam (which we highly recommend). He opposed the industrial methods of the family firm, and established a craft workshop, where hand made objects were engraved with his signature. He was inspired by Georg Jensen and Jean Puiforcat.
A pretty boxed silver butter knife and jam spoon, with lovely terminal design, which has been cut out by hand. Both pieces are good quality and in excellent condition, they do not appear to have been used. The hallmarks are clear on both. This would make a lovely wedding present.
A Pair of Dutch silver wine labels (flesenlabels), with oval centres surrounded by pierced and engraved scrolling flowers and foliage, engraved for Sherry and Whisky. The labels are cast, so a pleasing weight and quality, we have replaced the chains with good quality sterling silver chains. The labels are 2nd quality 835 standard, as indicated by the lion passant in hexagon hallmarks. Both labels have makers mark BWE interlocked in oval, for B.W. van Eldik & A.F. van der Scheer, of Hollandia Zilver smeden of Zutphen, who worked between 1917 and 1950.
A lovely Campari sterling silver wine label, with a very unusual but attractive design. The label has pierced scrolls and leaves on the side and below, and 5 semi-circular half domes on top. This is a good quality label, certainly made by a master craftsman. The label has 2 hallmarks, a stamped 925 indicating sterling grade silver, and a punched STG also indicating sterling silver. Unfortunately for such a lovely label it has no town or makers mark, we are guessing Italy as based on it being a Campari label, but it could also be American? We welcome suggestions on its origin, thanks. Note - we have now acquired 2 additional wine labels in the same design, for Whisky and Gin respectively. We now believe the labels to be South African in origin, and are researching the additional hallmarks.
A circular silver bowl, with the crest of the Worshipful Company of Ironmongers, and the date 1937 engraved on it. The 2 lizards or salamanders are used in the crest of the Ironmongers as they could reputably survive fire. The Company of Ironmongers is one of the 12 great livery companies, 10th in order of precedence (The Goldsmiths are 5th). The bowl was made to commemorate the coronation of King George VI in 1937, and would probably have been distributed to it's freemen. The company is still active today, and its hall (destroyed during WW1) can be rented out for functions. The hallmarks are clear, including makers mark C.E, who has not been identified, but who worked between 1924 and 1956 (www.silvermakersmarks.co.uk, on our links page).
Art Deco octagonal sweet dish with Ivory handles, with very clear hallmarks. This dish could also be used for teabags, and would fit very nicely with the Deco tea service (item S179).
A lovely set of six Art Deco coffee spoons, with unusual pierced design, celtic in appearance. They were retailed by Boodle & Dunthorpe, Goldsmiths of Lord Street, Liverpool, and are still in their original box. Boodle and Dunthorpe (Boodles) was founded in 1798 in Liverpool, and are still in the Lord Street premises in Liverpool. Boodles is a highly respected firm, they made the octagonal silver wedding cake stand for HRH Princess Elizabeth, now Queen. The spoons were made in 1939, just before the outbreak of World War II. The hallmarks on all 6 spoons are perfect.
Beautiful set of 6 classic Art Deco teaspoons, made by the highly regarded firm of Elkington. The spoons were made early in the Second World War, before production was halted in favour of the war effort. The hallmarks are clear on all 6 spoons.
A beautiful Australian Arts & Crafts hand made sterling silver jam spoon, with Geraldton Wax indigenous floral finial, made by of of Perth's leading family of silversmiths, Linton Silver. The spoon has a hand hammered (planished) bowl, triple rat tail drop and a cast silver floral finial, the detail and quality is very pleasing. The spoon are clearly hallmarked, a gum nut symbol in square punch, "ST.SILVER" standard mark and makers mark JAL for Linton Silver, who traded between 1938 and 1978. JAL refers to Jamie Linton, who joined his father's studio in 1920, he remained active until 1980. He trained in Perth, Paris and London, where he studied Central School for Arts & Crafts. He designed the range of Australian indigenous wildflower spoons, which are still produced today by Bethamy Linton, who retails each spoon at $295. Note - We have a matching teaspoons S 11535.
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 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 Arts and Crafts sterling silver bangle, made by the little known silversmith Denis Lacy-Hulbert in 1953, an early piece of his work. The bangle is decorated with flowers and foliage, the original solder join still clearly visible. The hallmarks are hidden in the decoration but still clearly visible, they include the optional coronation mark used to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1952. We assume this piece was made for a member of his family, and not intended for sale. Denis (Ben) Lacy-Hulbert (1911-2005) was Managing Director of a family steel tube/ cylinder manufacturing business, silversmithing was a hobby, very few items are recorded by him. Denis also made antique replica items in 18 carat gold, notably a strawberry dish and tumber cups. Denis Lacy-Hulbert registered his mark in 1953, but most surviving work appears to be between 1972 and 1983, he was based in Chesterfield, Darbyshire. The business Lacy-Hulbert & Co was founded by Denis and Cyril's father Charles in 1903, they were ...
A Natal Mercury sterling silver Medal, awarded in 1928 by N.A.R.A. The medal has a winged Mercury, the Roman messenger of the Gods, running across a bridge, surrounded by "Natal Mercury 1928". The reverse has a laurel wreath, and is engraved "N.A.R.A. won by" - with no name engraved. The Natal Mercury is South Africa's oldest newspaper, established in 1852, and still running today, it still uses Mercury as it's logo. We are not sure what NARA stands for, perhaps Natal Amateur Running Association? The mercury logo is also used by the Comrades Marathon, the world's largest and oldest ultramarathon race, 89 km's between Durban and PieterMaritzburg, established in 1921. All finishers received a silver medal until 1931, we are not sure if this medal was intended for the comrades. We have also seen a 9 carat gold version of this medal.
A sterling silver medallion commemorating the 50 year anniversary of the South African Teachers Union (Suid Afrikaanse Onderwys Unie) IN 1955. The front of the medallion shows Cape Town's Table Mountain under clouds, with KAAPSTAD engraved underneath, the reverse has S.A.O.U above a scroll with the dates 1905-1955. The medallion has a loop so it can be worn as a pendant. This is a beautiful medallion, excellent quality and in very fine condition. The medallion is clearly hallmarked with the South African Lion above U, STG sterling mark, date letter gothic h for 1955, and makers mark SAM for South African Mint. The SAOU still exists today, with branches in all 9 provinces, representing South African teachers, unfortunately their website does not explain it's history or this beautiful medallion.
