Steppes Hill Farm Antiques Newsletter #5 - October 2011 |
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I have always been fascinated by silver items made and assayed in the small Provincial Towns of England, Scotland and Ireland. The diverse and intriguing hallmarks used in the Provinces and the fact that small collectable silver is often incompletely marked (in a lot of cases all we have to go on is a maker’s mark ) has led me to many happy hours of research in an effort to pin down an item to a particular town or assay office, always praying that we might have discovered a real rarity. Often the research ends inconclusively, but just occasionally a real gem is uncovered.
For this months 'Featured Item' I have put together a little group of silver collectables from various Provincial Towns in England and Scotland. I include pieces from Plymouth (Exeter), Sheffield, Birmingham, Liverpool (Chester), Newcastle, York, Perth, Aberdeen and Inverness.
The details are as follows:-
- WINE LABEL Port, by William Henry Lamport, Plymouth (Exeter) 1829.
- SUGAR TONGS, by Thomas Lamborn, Sheffield 1803.
- TABLE SPOON, by William Jamieson, Aberdeen c1820.
- SKEWER, by Robert Jones, Liverpool (Chester) 1801.
- MARROW SCOOP, by John Langlands I, Newcastle 1757.
- WINE LABEL Montilla, by James Barber & William North, York c1830-40.
- CADDY SPOON, by Joseph Taylor, Birmingham 1797 (Double Duty Mark).
- APPLE CORER, by Charles Murray, Perth c1820.
- WINE LABEL Port, by Robert Naughton, Inverness c1820.
All of the above can be viewed on the web site by clicking on the hyperlink.
Other recent finds include a fine Bow Figure of a New Dancer, A George II silver shaped square Salver, a lovely Royal Crown Derby Cabinet Plate, an exceptional silver gilt Snuff Box by a scarce maker, a good pair of Dr Wall Worcester lozenge shape Dishes, a rare novelty silver Vinaigrette in the form of a Suitcase, a pair of late Dresden Helena Wolfshon Tea Caddies and some interesting additions to our Wine Label category.
I do hope that you will find this Newsletter informative and helpful and will allow us send it to you on a regular basis. I would welcome any feedback you may have, both positive and negative.
David W.A. Buck.
Steppes Hill Farm Antiques |
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