Silver & Gold Decor
Solid silver for the table and the home: tea and coffee services, candlesticks, trays, cutlery, baskets, boxes and small figures in sterling, Dutch, Italian and French silver standards.
A Victorian Silver Scent Bottle by John Millward Banks, London 1870, of rectangular form with a screw-off cover
A Very Large Edwardian Silver-Mounted Dressing Table Mirror by William Comyns & Sons, London 1906, the shaped arched plate with bevelled edge
A Continental Articulated Fish Possibly Judaic Spice Box 19th Century, possibly Danish, with a hinged head cover and a hinged mouth
An Elizabeth II Silver Music Box by St James House Company, London 1980, limited edition no. 58/500, of rectangular form with a hinged lid
A Pair Of George V Silver-Gilt Pierced Baskets by C.S.Harris & Sons Ltd., London 1921, of oval form with scroll and foliate cast rims
A Spanish Silver Group Of A Bull And Matador mid-20th Century, the matador modelled executing a pass with his cape as the bull charges
A William IV Silver And Cut-Glass Butter Dish On Stand by Henry Wilkinson & Co., Sheffield 1833
An Indian Colonial Silver Expanding Toast Rack by William Henry Twentyman, Calcutta, first quarter of the 19th Century, of six-division wirework form
A Pair Of Late Victorian Silver Napkin Rings by James Deakin & Sons, Sheffield 1891, each chased with a foliate band, vacant cartouches
A Scottish Set Of Four Silver Animal Menu Holders by Brook & Son, Edinburgh 1937
A George III Silver Tea Caddy by Charles Aldridge & Henry Green, London 1784, of rectangular form
An Edwardian Silver-Mounted Novelty Double Letter Clip by George W
A George V Silver And Tortoiseshell Card Case maker's marks rubbed, London 1916, of rectangular form with a hinged cover
A George V Scottish Silver Model of a Golfer by J
A Continental Silver And Guilloché Enamel Snuff Box early 20th Century, possibly Austro-Hungarian, of rectangular form with a hinged cover
A Pair Of Elizabeth II Scottish Silver Figural Candlesticks by Hamilton & Inches, Edinburgh 2000, the stems cast as a pair of rampant lions
A Pair Of George I Silver Candlesticks makers mark Lii (possibly Seth Lofthouse), London 1718, with lion's head erased mark
A Pair of Elizabeth II Modernist Silver Spoons by Adrian K
An Indian Silver Dish of circular form, repoussé decorated to the centre with a seated deity surrounded by animals within a landscape
An Austrian Art Nouveau Silver Tray of shaped circular outline, in the form of a lily pad, embossed with stylised flowerheads and leaves
A Late Victorian Silver and Enamel Vesta Case by Samuel M
An 18th Century German Silver Beaker Augsburg, early 18th Century, maker's mark R.C., of tapering cylindrical form, embossed with foliate scrolls
A Rare American Sterling Silver Cocktail Shaker in the Form of a Lidded Tankard by Crichton & Co
A George V Silver Two-Handled Bowl by Charles Edwards, London 1911, of oval form with part-fluted decoration, the handles modelled as dragons
A Christopher Dresser Style Silver-Plated Teapot of inverted pyramid form with an angular ebonised handle, the hinged cover with a square finial
A Russian Silver-Gilt And Cloisonné Enamel Caddy Spoon late 19th Century, circa 1896, 84 Zolotnik marked, decorated with foliate cloisonné enamel in turquoise
A Cased Set Of Six Art Deco Silver And Enamel Coffee Spoons by W H Haseler Ltd, Birmingham 1939, each with yellow enamelled fan-shaped terminal
A George V Silver And Enamel Vesta Case maker's marks rubbed, Birmingham 1927, of rounded rectangular form with a hinged cover
An Art Deco Silver Three-Piece Condiment Set by Jones & Crompton, Chester 1926, comprising an open salt with spoon, pepperette and a mustard pot
A Pair Of George III Silver Dwarf Candlesticks by John Green, Roberts, Mosley & Co., Sheffield 1801, each of circular form with detachable sconces
A Continental Silver-Gilt Figural Sweetmeat Dish possibly Hanau, late 19th Century, of fluted oval form, embossed with foliate scrolls
An Elizabeth II Silver Model Of A Beagle by Smd Castings, London 1973, realistically modelled in a standing pose with one raised paw
An Elizabeth II Silver Table Snuff Box by Asprey & Co
Patrick Mavros: A Silver Miniature Model Of A Feeding Guinea Fowl marked Pm, mounted on an ebonised hardwood base.
A George III Silver Tray maker's mark Ws, London 1789, of rounded rectangular form with twin scroll handles
A Victorian Presentation Silver Spectacles Case apparently unmarked, of oblong form, with a hinged cover
A Victorian Silver Presentation Trowel by Edward & John Barnard and George Richard Elkington, London 1859
An Edwardian Pierced Silver Sugar Basket maker's marks rubbed, possibly by George Fox, London 1903, pierced with foliate motif, embossed with swags
A George IV Silver Card Case by Taylor & Perry, Birmingham 1829, of rectangular form with a hinged cover, engine-turned decoration
A Burmese Silver Offering Bowl late 19th/ early 20th Century, decorated in relief with figural panels amongst scroll and foliate borders.
A Russian Silver And Enamel Vesta Case late 19th/ early 20th Century, maker's mark Ak (possibly Antip Kuzmichev), Moscow
An Edwardian Silver And Gold Vesta Case maker's marks worn, Birmingham 1902, of rectangular form with a hinged cover, foliate engraved
A Continental Silver Tray 18th/ 19th Century, maker's mark Cm, of oblong form with a scalloped rim
An Elizabeth II Silver And Enamel Egg On Stand marked Mc, Sheffield 1998, in yellow guilloché enamel, opening at the centre to reveal a fabric-lined interior
A Georgian Silver Cream Jug marks rubbed, of baluster form atop a multi-stepped circular pedestal with Btm engraved on the underside
A Silver-Plated Table Centrepiece in the manner of Elkington & Co., early 20th Century
Judaica: A German Silver 'Pidyon Ha-Ben ' Serving Plate Or Tray Augsburg, early 19th Century, of oval form
A Chinese Export Silver Model Of A Globe early 20th Century, possibly for a trophy, the sphere engraved with lines of longitude and latitude
What this category contains
Tea and coffee services, candlesticks, serving trays, bonbon baskets, cutlery and serving sets, salts, decanters, pillboxes, cigarette cases, needle cases and small silver figures, together with a few gold and mixed-metal pieces. Makers include British silversmiths such as Walker & Hall, Dutch firms such as Gerritsen & van Kempen and Bonebakker, French makers such as Puiforcat, and Italian workshops. Most pieces here are between EUR 300 and EUR 2,700.
Understanding silver standards
The number in a title is the fineness, in parts per thousand of pure silver:
- .925: sterling silver, the British and international standard.
- .950: the French first standard.
- .934 and .833: common Dutch standards.
- .800: widely used in Italy and Germany.
- .835, .915: used in several continental countries and in Spain and Portugal.
"Silverplated" items belong in Cooking & Dining and are not solid silver.
Hallmarks
Hallmarks can show the fineness, the town or assay office, the maker and, in Britain and the Netherlands, a date letter. They help you date and attribute a piece. Look for them in the photos, usually on the base or near the handle.
Condition and care
Light surface scratches and some dents are normal on silver that has been used. Look at the photos for repairs, thin spots from heavy polishing, and loose handles or finials. Store silver in anti-tarnish cloth and polish gently by hand.
Frequently asked questions
What does .925 or .800 mean on silver?
It is the silver content in parts per thousand. .925 (sterling) means 92.5% pure silver, the rest usually copper for strength. .800 means 80% silver and is common in Italy and Germany, while .833 and .934 are Dutch standards and .950 is the French first standard. All of these are solid silver; the higher the number, the more pure silver the object contains.
How do I read a silver hallmark?
A full set of hallmarks can include a fineness mark (a number or symbol), an assay office or town mark, a maker's mark (usually initials) and, in some countries such as the UK and the Netherlands, a date letter showing the year of testing. Reference books and online hallmark databases let you match each symbol to its town, maker and date.
What is the difference between solid silver and silverplated?
Solid silver is made throughout from a silver alloy and is normally hallmarked with its fineness. Silverplated items have a thin layer of silver over a base metal such as copper or nickel alloy, and are marked with terms like EPNS, "silverplated" or a maker's plate mark. Plate is lighter in value and can wear through to the base metal with heavy polishing.
How should I clean antique silver?
Wash in warm water with mild washing-up liquid, dry immediately with a soft cloth, and polish tarnish with a dedicated silver cloth or a gentle silver cream. Avoid the dishwasher, abrasive pads and dip cleaners, which can strip patina and damage gilding. Store pieces wrapped in anti-tarnish cloth or in a closed cabinet to slow tarnishing.