Animals, Birds, Fish

Circa 1900

10175 Antique Silver Fish Box
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A very attractive 19th century novelty silver fish with green glass eyes and articulated body. The fish opens into a box at the neck and has an unusual snap shut mechanism. Large size and graceful style with naturalistic engraved detail and scales. The bottom fins serve also as stand supports. Weight 274 grams, 8.8 troy ounces. Length 28cm. Foreign silver marks. Maker not known. Circa 1900.
1901
John George Piddington
8444 Antique Continental Silver Musician on Donkey
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A rare antique sterling silver model of a travelling musician seated on a donkey. Mounted with semi precious stones on his clothing, the harness and the base. Beautiful modelling, this piece needs to be seen in real life to appreciate the quality. Good weight and colour. Weight 678 grams, 21.8 troy ounces. Height 20 cms. Spread 18 cms. Base 15 x 7 cms. Marked on the base with both the original continental Hanau silver marks (high grade 930 silver) and also London import hallmarks for 1901. Importer John George Piddington.
1902
Adie & Lovekin
8332 Antique Silver Pig Pin Cushion
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A super size antique sterling silver pin cushion in the form of a pig with a curly tail. Weight 98 grams, 3.1 troy ounces. Height 4.5 cms. Length 8.5 cms. Marked underneath for Birmingham 1902. Maker possibly Adie and Lovekin Ltd.
1903
Crisford & Norris
8659 Antique Silver Dog Rattle and Whistle
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A novelty sterling silver whistle and rattle baby item modelled with the head of a dog, complete with a whistle, bell and ivory teething ring. Total weight 12 grams, less than half a troy ounce. Dog measures5 x 2.5 cms. Ring diameter 3.5 cms. Birmingham 1903. Maker Crisford & Norris.
1904

8248 Antique Silver Model Pig
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A nice little antique sterling silver pig sitting on his haunches. Weight 23 grams. Length 7.8 cms. Height 2.4 cms. Import marks under the head for London 1904. No makers mark.
1906
Britten Gould & Co
8814 Antique Silver Hedgehog Pin Cushion
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Very collectible sewing item. A lovely antique sterling silver hedgehog or porcupine pin cushion. Cleverly designed so that you can put the pins in the holes to form the spines of the animal. It still has the original cotton wool stuffing inside. Weight 10 grams. Length 4.5 cms. Birmingham 1906. Maker Britten Gould & Co.
1906
John George Piddington
9671 Antique Silver Fish Snuff Box
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A rare Victorian novelty silver antique fish with 2 compartments. One is inside the head and is accessed when the mouth opens. The other is inside the body and is accessed when the head opens. Large size. Beautifully articulated. Naturalistic engraved detail and scales. Red glass eyes. The bottom fins serve also as stand supports. Weight 307 grams, 9.8 troy ounces. Length 20.6 cm. Width 6 cm. Stamped on head and the tail fin with continental silver marks and London import mark for 1906. Importer and retailer J.G.Piddington.
1909
Gourdel Vales
8304 Pair of Antique Silver Teddy Bear Peppers
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Novelty silver. A pair of antique sterling silver pepper pots in the form of a teddy bear. Attractive styling. Removable heads. Total weight 30 grams, 1 troy ounce. Height 3.5 cms. Birmingham 1909. Maker Gourdel Vales & Co.
Circa 1910

8334 Antique Silver Cat
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A charming antique continental silver figure of a seated cat nicely modelled with his tail curled up behind his back. Good quality. Filled weight 20 grams. Height 5.5 cms. Marked on the front leg with continental silver marks. Probably German. Circa 1910.
Circa 1910
Asprey
8552 Antique Silver Plated Monkey Nutcracker by Asprey
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An unusual antique silver plated nutcrackers with a finely modelled head of a monkey at the top. To use – simply place the nut inside the monkey’s jaw and squeeze the handgrip. Stamped Asprey, registered design number 680619. English, circa 1910.
Circa 1910

8711 Antique Indian Silver Teapot
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Of colonial interest. A delightful antique silver teapot with embossed decoration all over of a hunting scene. With an elephant finial and stylised elephant handle and spout. The body has an interesting decoration of a jungle inhabited by elephants, lions and wild cows; to one side there is an elephant, with his mahout, and riding on the howdah* a hunter is taking aim at a group of lions, on the other side the man on horseback is shooting a gun and is accompanied by his hunting dog. Weight 547 grams, 17.5 troy ounces. Height 11 (to top of finial). Spread 23.5 cms. Stamped underneath with Indian silver marks for Bombay. Circa 1900.
Circa 1910

6064 Pair of Large Antique Silver Table Birds
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An excellent quality pair of antique silver cockerels . Very finely modelled. Weight 1203 grams, 38.6 troy ounces. Height 20 cms. Spread 24 cms. German silver stamps on the wing – crown, moon and 800 silver grade. Each bird is marked on the tip of the wing. Circa 1910.
Circa 1910

7260 Pair of French Silver Squirrel Peppers
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A charming pair of antique silver figural pepperettes of seated squirrels holding a nut in their paws. Each has a hinged compartment below to put the pepper. The nut has some holes where the pepper is poured. Weight 156 grams, 5.0 troy ounces. Height 8 cms. Marked on the edge of the bottom flap with a French silver stamp. Circa 1910.
1910

1525 Model Silver Horse
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A charming figure of a racing mare finely modelled in sterling silver. The head is detachable. Height 17 cms. Width (nose to tail) 21 cms. Import marks for London 1910.
Circa 1910

9654 Antique Burmese Silver Bowl
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A good quality antique silver bowl having 6 decorated panels and a blank cartouche to the front. The embossed panels are covered with characterful scenes depicting Jakarta scenes, an elephant and sage vindura-pandita, figures pulled in a horse drawn chariot, a figure asleep in a tree, a water carrier pursued by a Chinthe, figures pouring tea in front of buildings, each reserved in strapwork with foliate scrolls and vignettes infilled with devas (celestial sprites).
Circa 1910
Asprey
9769 Antique Silver Plated Parrot Nutcracker
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An unusual pair of antique silver plated nutcrackers with a finely modelled head of a parrot at the top. To use – simply place the nut inside the parrot’s jaw and squeeze the handgrip. Length 14.8cm. Stamped Asprey, registered design number 598487. English. Circa 1910. Silver plated.
Circa 1910
Gebruder Dingeldein
9980 Antique Silver Fish
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An excellent quality novelty silver antique fish with red glass eyes. Beautifully articulated. The fish opens into a box at the neck, and the mouth opens into a second smaller box. Large size and graceful style with naturalistic engraved detail and scales. The bottom fins serve also as stand supports. Weight 262 grams, 8.4 troy ounces. Length 37.5cm. Continental silver marks for Hanau, Germany. Maker Gebruder Dingeldein. Circa 1910.
1911
Berthold Muller
8384 Pair of Novelty Silver Chick Peppers
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A charming pair of antique sterling silver condiments modelled as baby birds. Excellent quality and heavy gauge silver.Beautifully modelled with expressive little faces. Screw filler caps to the base. Weight 158 grams, 5 troy ounces. Height 6 cms. Continental silver marks. English silver import marks for Chester 1911. Maker Berthold Muller.
1912
Grey & Co
8213 Antique Silver Tortoise Bell
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A fine and realistic antique tortoise table bell modelled with a solid sterling silver shell and a body made from bronze effect steel. The underside holds a clockwork winding mechanism that sounds the bell when the head or the tail is pressed. Spread 17.5 cms. Height 6 cms. Shell measures 9.3 x 11.5 cms. Silver hallmarked on the shell for Chester 1912. Silver makers mark and stamped underneath for maker Grey & Co.
1912
William Edward Hurcomb
6188 Antique Novelty Silver Bell Modelled as a Pig
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Amazing quality. A rare antique sterling silver model pig which rings if you press his nose or curly tail. Heavy gauge silver, excellent modelling and fine chased detail make this a highly desirable item. Underneath the pig there is a key to wind the mechanism inside. Total weight including mechanism 644 grams, 20.7 troy ounces. Length 16.5 cms. Height 7.5 cms (top of tail). Hallmarked on all pieces for London 1912. Maker William Edward Hurcomb.
1919

6843 Antique Silver Bird
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An attractive model silver bird with detachable head and glass eyes. Inside there is a silver grill so that the bird can be used as a shaker (possibly for sugar). Beautifully modelled, the bird has very realistic plumage, the wings are applied separately but do not open. Stamped on the head and rim with Dutch silver stamps for 1919.
Circa 1920
Ernest Eschwege
8604 Antique French Silver Table Birds
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A fine pair of French silver table ornaments modelled as game birds with articulated wings. High grade 950 silver (purer than 925 sterling silver). Large size and excellent weight. These models are very realistic and have fine chased detail. Weight 1443 grams, 46.3 troy ounces. Male bird height 19 cms, length 39 cms. Female bird 18.5 cms, length 40 cms. Stamped with French silver stamps on the wing and tail feather. Maker Ernest Eschwege. Circa 1920.
Circa 1920

9145 Antique Continental Silver Cow Creamer
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An antique silver cream jug in the form of a model cow. Unusual large size. With ruby red glass eyes. The flap with a bee on the cow’s back lifts to fill the jug with cream which is poured out of the cow’s mouth. Simple figuring and naive expressive face. Weight 196 grams, 6.3 troy ounces. Height 11 cms. Length 16.5 cms. Marked underneath with Dutch silver marks, duty mark to the lid. Circa 1920.
Circa 1920

9267 Antique Continental Silver Cow Creamer
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An antique silver cream jug in the form of a model cow. The flap with a bee on the cow’s back lifts to fill the jug with cream which is poured out of the cow’s mouth. Simple figuring and naive expressive face. Weight 136 grams, 4.3 troy ounces. Height 9.8 cms. Length 14.6 cms. Marked on the body underneath the flap with continental silver marks, probably Dutch. Circa 1920.
Circa 1920

6638 Antique Silver Knight on Horseback
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A magnificent sterling silver model of a knight in armour mounted on a rearing horse. The knight’s helmet has a hinged visor and inside you can see his carved faux ivory face. Excellent weight and figurative detail. Part gilded on the hoofs, saddle and bridal. Weight 1238 grams, 39.8 troy ounces. Height 21.5 cms (24.5 cms to top of flag). Base 16.5 x 8 cms. Marked on the front edge of the base “STERLING”, 925 and “GERMANY”. Circa 1920.
Circa 1920
JIAN JI 記建
9448 Antique Chinese Silver Bowl JIAN JI 記建
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An antique silver bowl with pierced decoration of two outstretched dragons breathing fire and smoke. Medium size suitable for fruit and bread. Weight 451 grams, 14.5 troy ounces. Height 9.7cm. Diameter 19cm.Stamped underneath with Chinese silver stamps. Retailer “KK”. Artisan workshop JIAN JI 記建. Circa 1920.
Circa 1920

9851 Antique Silver Fish
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An excellent quality model fish in sterling silver. Unusual style with another small fish inside his mouth. Large size. Beautifully articulated. Naturalistic engraved detail and scales. The bottom fins serve also as stand supports. Weight 455 grams, 14.6 troy ounces. Total length (including little fish) 46 cm. Height 12 cm. Stamped on the tail fin with continental silver marks. Probably Spanish. Circa 1920.
Circa 1930

8957 Antique Silver Dog Pepper
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An attractive antique sterling silver condiment modelled as a dog with a curly tail. Detachable top. Good quality model in heavy cast silver. Weight 47 grams, 1.5 troy ounces. Height 5cm. Marked underneath “sterling” with makers mark “D & H”. Possibly American. Circa 1930.
Circa 1930

7003 Vintage Silver Cat Pendant Minaudiere
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A beautiful piece of jewellery. A silver ladies compact on hanging chain in the form of a cat with ruby red eyes. Stunning quality and very realistic. The cat’s tail serves as a catch which when opened reveals a double section compact case and a small mirror in the lid. The reverse side is modelled as the back of the cat. Traces of gilt. Weight 59 grams. Length 5.5 cms. Width 3 cms. Height 1 cm. Stamped with German silver marks, 900 grade. Circa 1930.
1931 - 1967
Adolph Barsach Davis
9911 Antique Silver Kingfishers
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A stunning pair of antique silver model birds with the familiar pointed beaks and compact body of this popular fisher bird. Beautiful modelling. Good weight and colour. Total weight 384 grams, 12.3 troy ounces. Height 10.3cm. Spread 16.2cm. English silver import marks. London 1931 and 1967. Importer Adolph Barsach Davis and “JMR”. Sterling silver.
1939
Joseph Heming
8845 Large Silver Model Horse
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A beautiful model horse in sterling silver standing on a solid wooden plinth. Substantial weight and size. The quality is stunning. Fine features and lovely expressive face. Weight including base 3230 grams, 103.8 troy ounces. Height 29 cms (including plinth), 25.5 cms (without plinth). Spread 41 cms from tip of nose to tail. Birmingham 1939. Maker Joseph Heming & Co.
1960
Tiffany & Co
8988 Vintage Tiffany Silver Dog Head Table Lighter
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An excellent model of a poodle head in heavy cast sterling silver. The base contains a detachable cigarette lighter made by Calibri. Weight 438 grams. Height 8.5 cms. Base 4×5.4 cms. London 1960. Tiffany & Co.