Specialist Collecting

Circa 1840
Luigi Sciolet
10224 Italian Antique Silver Pot
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A curious little silver container in the form of a small teapot with a serpent spout and handle, four heavy cast eagle feet, and the lid finial modelled as a swan. 19^th century. Fantastic decorative quality and heavy gauge silver. Likely to be an oil dispenser (oliera), possibly to fill something like a kettle spirit lamp. Contains 320ml. Weight 519 grams, 16.6 troy ounces. Length 18.5cm from spout to handle. Rome, Italy. Maker Luigi Sciolet. Circa 1840.
1845 - 1847
Daniel & Charles Houle
9625 Victorian Silver Shell Dishes
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A pretty pair of small sterling silver dishes of shell form, each with a shell handle and raised on small hoof feet. Gilt interiors. Suitable for butter or sweets. Engraved to the front with a matching crest. Weight 197 grams, 6.3 troy ounces. Tops measure 10 x 11.3 cm. London 1845/7. Maker Daniel & Charles Houle.
Circa 1849
Nathaniel Mills
9012 Antique Silver Snuff Box
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An excellent quality antique sterling silver snuff box of rectangular form with cushion sides. The top has a cast silver border with crisp vine leaf decoration and centre engraved with a street scene (possibly University College, Oxford). The base is engine turned. The interior has the original bright gilding. Top measures 9×6 cms. Height 2.2 cms. Weight 159 grams, 5.1 troy ounces. Birmingham 1849. Maker Nathaniel Mills.
1849

8107 Antique Dutch Silver Counter Box
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A very pretty antique silver box with a pull off lid and decorative bands of flowers and stars. Weight less than 1 troy ounce. Height 4 cm. Diameter 3 cm. With Dutch silver marks for Schoonhoven and date letter “P” for 1849.
Circa 1850

8247 Antique Russian Silver and Niello Snuff Box
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A delightful antique silver box with attractive and very detailed engraved decoration. The top is decorated in the traditional silver and black niello with a courting couple in a strange rocky landscape and, in the background there is a tall building on a stippled ground (with minor traces of gilt). The base is equally beautiful with a young man holding a bouquet of flowers. The sides are engraved with lots of small houses. The interior has the original gilding. Weight 60 grams, 1.9 troy ounces. Top measures 6.3 x 4.5 cms. Height 1.5 cms. Top and bottom marked with Russian silver marks – makers mark, 84 grade, date mark badly struck circa 1850.
Circa 1850

8601 Antique German Silver Spice Tower
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A rare antique Berlin silver spice box with attractive scroll filigree centre decoration and a hinged door. Weight 106 grams, 4.2 troy ounces. Height 22 cms. Diameter of base 5.5 cms. Marked on the edge of the base with German silver marks for Berlin. Mid 19th century. Judaica.
Circa 1850

6416 Antique Silver Seal
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An antique silver seal in the form of a Roman lady dressed in robes and carrying a dagger and hanging scales (portraying Justice?). Very unusual. The base of the seal is engraved with a decorative monogram. Weight 59 grams, 1.9 troy ounces. Height 11 cms. Seal 2.5 x 2 cms. Unmarked silver. Probably continental and circa 1850.
Circa 1850

9718 Antique Silver Dog Collar
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A 19^th century silver dog collar with green leather lining. Adjustable to 2 different sizes with a retaining padlock and two bells. Hand engraved with scroll decoration. Diameter 9.5cm and 9 cm. Unmarked silver – tested. Probably English. Circa 1850.
Circa 1850

10276 Antique Silver Whistle
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Of nautical interest and highly collectible. An antique silver bosuns whistle of traditional curved design with a hand engraved wriggle work design. Complete with suspension ring. Weight 13 grams. Length 10.2cm. English, circa 1850. Sterling silver. 19^th century.
Circa 1856

9948 Antique Silver Cowrie Shell Snuff Box
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Of nautical interest. A charming antique silver mounted cowrie shell snuff box with flush hinged cover, decorated with bright cut engraving and engraved dedication ” P. Ferguson 1856″. Particularly nice is the unusual carved shell decoration featuring a sailing ship with full rigging and the Forget me Not inscription. Length 8cm. Width 5.8cm. Height 4cm. The silver is unmarked as is common with these boxes. Probably Scottish. Circa 1856.
Circa 1857
Allan & Hayes
9609 Antique Indian Silver Mug
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Of colonial interest. An excellent quality large silver tankard with all over grape vine decoration. Very large and heavy. Original bright gilt interior. Applied cast silver foot and handle with bark detail. To the front is an inscription in old fashioned script. Contains 900 ml. Weight 819 grams, 26.3 troy ounces. Height 14.5 cm. Diameter of top 10 cm. Spread across handle 15.5 cm. Circa 1857. Stamped underneath with the maker Allan & Hayes – colonial silversmiths working in Calcutta, India during the mid 19^th century.
1858
Hunt & Roskell
9500 Antique Silver Hunting Jug
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Of sporting interest. A Victorian sterling silver flagon with hinged lid and scroll handle. The body has a deep relief hunting scene with horses and riders hunting to hounds. The lid has a dog finial. Gilt interior. Contains 1400 ml. Weight 1039 grams. Height 26.5cm. Spread 21.5cm. London 1858. Maker Hunt & Roskell, late Storr & Mortimer.
Circa 1860

8981 Antique Gold Portrait Box - Napoleon
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An antique wooden box with an inset portrait of Napoleon, hand painted and signed “Delaroche”, within an ivory surround. The burr wood is particularly attractive. The gold interior has French gold stamps. Diameter 8.7cm. Circa 1860. 15 carat gold or higher.
Circa 1860

9624 Antique Scottish Silver Snuff Mull
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An antique horn snuff mull with a broad silver mount embossed with thistles. The hinged lid is inset with a large citrine gemstone. Spread 14.5 cm. Diameter 6.5 cm. Unmarked silver. Probably Scottish circa 1860.
1863
Ortner & Houle
8145 Antique Silver Travelling Lamp
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A fine quality antique sterling silver travelling or carriage lamp by Orton & Houle, neatly designed so that it can be carried for travel. To use the lamp, lift the lid and pull out the hinged front cover to reveal the candle holder behind a glass panel. The lamp can then either be hung from the suspension hooks, or placed standing up by pulling down the base. Next to the base there is a cylindrical vesta case, with a drop down hinged cover for matches and a match striker. A nice feature is the candle holder which has a spring fitting allowing the candle to be pushed up as the candle burns down. Stamped on the main cover with full English silver hallmarks for London 1863. Maker and retailer Ortner & Houle, 3 St James St, SW London.
1865

8822 Antique Russian Silver and Niello Cigarette Case
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An unusual double sided antique silver cigarette case with niello decoration and original gilt interior. The top has a chequered black and white purse decoration with a swivel catch. The reverse has a niello decorated scene of a large square with monumental buildings. Weight 93 grams, 3 troy ounces. Top measures 9.5 x 5.2 cms. Height 1.6 cms. Marked inside top, centre and bottom with Russian silver marks. Dated 1865.
1869
Thomas Johnson
9610 Antique Solid Gold Topped Walking Cane
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A 19^th century 18 carat gold topped malacca walking stick. The gold is in excellent crisp condition with ribbed decoration. Brass tip. Total weight of wood and gold 162 grams. Length 87.5 cm. London 1869. Maker Thomas Johnson II. Retailed by Brigg.
1875 - 1876
Martin Hall and Co
10129 Antique Silver Ewer and Basin
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A very rare and prestigious item. This magnificent gilt silver armada jug and stand was presented in honour of the Guildhall banquet for the Prince and Princess of Wales’s return from India. The tall jug, of vase shape form, has bands of classical motifs and ribbing, the centre with deep relief swags of ribbons and fruit with centre medallions. This superb decoration is repeated on the matching base which has a raised central dome decorated with the Prince of Wales feathers. The front of the basin has a large presentation inscription dated 1876. Weight – ewer 908 grams, basin 1258 grams, total 2166 grams, 69.6 troy ounces. Jug – height36cm, spread 14cm. Basin diameter 39.5cm. London 1875/6. Maker Martin Hall.
1876

8099 Antique Russian Silver and Niello Cigarette Case
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A good quality antique silver cigarette case with niello decoration and original gilt interior. The top has a spirited picture of a 3 horse drawn troika. Weight 155 grams, 4.9 troy ounces. Top measures 11 x 6.75 cms. Height 3.5 cms. Marked inside top and bottom with Russian silver marks. Dated 1876.
Circa 1880

8831 Antique French Gold Metal Magnifying Glass
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A decorative antique eye glass or monocle with a swivel end. Can be worn on a chain. Length 8.3 cms. Width 4.1 cms. Gold cased (gold on metal probably brass). French. Circa 1880.
1880

6762 Antique Continental Silver and Rock Crystal Reliquary
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A 16th century style silver church reliquary (often called a philatory when transparent) of tall slim design with an oval shaped rock crystal container. With decorative borders and interesting applied mounts of bears, lady’s head masks and cherubs. Height 26.5 cms. Diameter 8.25 cms (top), 10.75 cms (base). Marked with continental silver stamps (indistinct) to the top and underneath. Probably Nuremberg, Germany. Circa 1880.
Circa 1880

6854 Antique Silver Dog Whistle
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A very charming novelty silver whistle modelled with the head of a dog, probably a bulldog or a pug, complete with a collar and a small chain loop. With the name “Elise” engraved to the whistle end. Weight 21 grams. Length 4.6 cms. Unmarked continental silver. Circa 1880.
Circa 1880

6958 Antique Silver and Cranberry Glass Cup and Cover
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A beautiful antique Bohemian glass vase with engraved panels around the body with architectural scenes. The front panel contains the figure of a Greek deity and there are names etched below the panels. The silver lid is mounted with an entwined serpent and an inset piece of mother of pearl. Height 15.5 cms. Diameter of top 7.5 cms. The lid is marked on the edge with “TF”. Austro Hungarian. Circa 1880.
1880
John Septimus Beresford
9994 Antique Silver Tea Caddies
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A magnificent pair of antique silver tea caddy boxes of cannister form with lift off lids. Large size and good gauge silver. Gilt finish. Britannia standard silver. The body is beautifully ornamented with cherubs, swags, acanthus leaf and other classical motifs on a hand chased matted background. Each box has an armorial engraved to the front and a monogram of old fashioned initials to the reverse. Total weight 841 grams, 27 troy ounces. Height 16.7m. Base 8 x 8cm. London 1880. Maker John Septimus Beresford.
1881
Sampson Mordan & Co
9372 Antique Silver Frog Peppers
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A rare and excellent quality pair of novelty silver pepperettes modelled in the form of crouching frogs. The chased decoration is very fine, crisp and realistic. Bead eyes. The pepper pours from the pierced holes representing the frog’s nostrils and wind sac. The pepper is filled via a screw cover to the underside. Total weight 171 grams, 5.4 troy ounces. Length 6.7cm. Width 4.5 cm. London 1881. Maker Sampson Mordan.
Circa 1883

9569 Victorian Presentation Shovel
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Excellent quality antique commemorative shovel with ebonised and carved wooden handle. Silver plated. Life size. Presentation inscription to the front of the spade. The decorative mounts have intricate engraved borders, the deeply chased decoration with flowers and leaves. Length 89 cms. Width 18 cms. Stamped on the reverse with silver plate marks for S. Hart & Co. Circa 1883.
1884
Sibray‚ Hall & Co
8011 Victorian Presentation Shovel
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Superb quality antique silver commemorative shovel with carved mahogany handle. Very interesting railway inscription. The decorative silver mounts have intricate engraved borders and deeply chased decoration with flowers and leaves. Length 88cm. Width 19cm. London 1884. Maker Sibray, Hall & Co.
1884

9646 Antique Enamel Opera Glasses
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A beautiful pair of antique opera glasses made of gilt brass metal and enamel. The binocular tops and extension knob are made of real mother of pearl. The pink enamel barrels are covered in gilt stars and have beaded cartouches and borders containing hand painted sprays of multi coloured flowers. The underside is inscribed “REG Armstrong 14.August 1884”. Measures – width 10.4 cm, closed height 6.3 cm, extended height 8.5 cm. Probably French. Circa 1884. Retailer’s mark Sharman D Neill, Belfast.
1886

8613 Queen Anne Style Silver Bowl
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A handsome antique sterling bowl in the early 18th century style with lions mask side handles, typical ribbed body decoration and decorative cartouches. The shaped rim was monteith style which was originally used to hold stem glasses, punch ladle and lemon squeezer (the top of an original monteith is also detachable). To the front there is an engraved crest of a standing cat with the motto “Touch Not the Cat Bot a Glove”*. To the front there is a presentation inscription**. Weight of silver 1321 grams, 42.4 troy ounces. Height 20 cms, diameter 25 cms. London 1886. Maker Sibray Hall & Co.
1888
William Neal
8297 Victorian Gentleman's Combination Whistle Vesta
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A Victorian sterling silver gentleman’s vesta case, with a vertical ribbed decoration, having a hinged lid with striker to one end, and a whistle to the other end. Weight 30 grams, 1 troy ounce. Length 7 cms. Width 2.5 cms. Marked inside lid and on the body for Chester 1888. Maker William Neale.
1888
Thomas Johnson
9402 Antique Silver Coin Tankard
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A rare antique sterling silver coin tankard with Chinese coins and an interesting inscription from (most likely) the exclusive little Bowling Club No. 49 Nanking Road, Shanghai. Contains 760 ml. Weight 622 grams, 20 troy ounces. Height 19.3 cm (to thumbpiece). Diameter 9.8 cm. Spread 16.6 cm. London 1888. Maker Thomas Johnson.
Circa 1890

8346 Antique French Silver and Enamel Lorgnette
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An attractive antique silver and niello enamel folding magnifying glass or eyeglass with a spring clip. This attractive black and white checked niello decoration originated from Russia in the 10th century. Length 12.3 cms. Spread across the lenses 10 cms. Diameter of lense frame 4 cms. Marked with the silver grade “935” between the lenses and with a French control mark on the carrying loop. French. Circa 1890.