Silver and Jewellery Highlights

Silver and Jewellery Highlights Maryanne Lineker—Mobberley Fine Pictures, Silver and Jewellery Sale Wednesday 20th March 2019

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LOT 10 A SAMPSON MORDAN & CO SILVER SCENT BOTTLE London 1893 of cylindrical form with chased bird and flower decoration, the hinged cover opening to reveal glass stopper, 5.5cm high

We are a nation of food lovers and I’m sure anyone reading this will have a shelf in the house designated to recipe books, however, despite this, many refuse to attempt the notoriously difficult ‘soufflé’. I wonder if the Victorians had the same reservations…possibly not with impressive dinner wear such as this silver soufflé dish.

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LOT 19 A SET OF FOUR PAUL STORR SILVER SALTS London 1813 & 1815 each of oval form with gadrooned borer, gilt interior and engraved crest, raised on four stylised winged feet, each 11cm wide x 5.5cm high, total weight approx 23.6oz

This lot is all about the name; Paul Storr.

One of the most well-known and respected silversmiths of his period. Collectors can be found around the globe and any silver bearing his name always commands a premium. A set of four salts is particularly desirable, as usually we only get to see pairs!

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LOT 25 A PAIR OF EARLY GEORGE III SILVER TEA CADDIES Samuel Taylor, London 1765 each of baluster form with embossed figural scenes within scroll and floral ground, the removable covers with cast sunflower finials, all raised on pierced decorative circular pedestal foot, 14cm high, total weight approx 13.5oz In the 18th century tea was enjoyed only by the very wealthy. It was a luxury product and to reflect this was stored in vessels of the finest design and made of the finest materials. Silver, a precious metal, was the perfect choice. This pair of caddies, with their figural decoration and intricate floral finials, epitomise the extravagance expended on these precious vessels.

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LOT 40

AN ART DECO SILVER HIP FLASK James Carr, Birmingham 1939 of engine turned faceted form with hinged twist cap, 11.5cm high, weight approx 5.5oz Hip flasks are always popular at auction, and this example, with its timeless Art Deco form will be no exception. They make the perfect birthday or anniversary gifts, especially for milestones like an 18th or 21st.

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LOT 48 A CASED VICTORIAN SILVER TEA & COFFEE SERVICE, SALVER AND TRAY John, Edward, Walter & John Barnard, London 1875 & 1876 the four piece tea and coffee service of circular form with bright cut engraved decoration and initials, comprising; a coffee pot, 22cm high, a teapot, 16cm high, a two handled sugar bowl, 10.5cm high and a cream jug, 11.5cm high, all raised on collet foot, together with a circular salver with beaded rim and conforming decoration, raised on three paw bracket feet, 25cm diameter and a large circular silver tray with conforming decoration and central presentation engraving, raised on four paw bracket feet, 46cm diameter, total weight approx 156.5oz, all presented within fitted oak case with two brass swing handles and key.

It’s not unusual to see a full tea and coffee service with matching makers and date marks, however, it is unusual to see one like this; cased and with two salvers. The presentation inscription tells us it was given for twenty-five year of service as a vestry clerk in 1876. The recipient must have been hugely respected as this magnificent set and would have cost a small fortune.

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LOT 51 A CHARLES I WEST COUNTRY SILVER SEAL TOP SPOON John Lavers, Exeter circa 1635-40 town mark to bowl and makers mark thrice to reverse of stem, 18cm long, weight approx 1.3oz.

Early silver is rare and it’s even rarer when it has been produced provincially rather than in London. This spoon, which dates around 1640, was made in Exeter and bears a town mark consisting of a crowned ‘X’. This pre-dates the use of the triple towered castle which were first used in 1701, when the Assay office opened.

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LOT 67 A VICTORIAN GARRARDS SILVER TABLE CENTREPIECE R & S Garrard & Co, London 1877 designed as a central knopped column raised upon lion mask mounted circular foot, all supporting removable pierced and chased bowl, 21cm high, weight approx 25.5oz.

Often, table-centrepieces are mounted with a removable glass bowl, so this example, with its removable silver platter is a little different. Made by silversmiths to the crown ‘Garrard’s’ its quality can be seen in details such as the knopped stem with lion mask accents.

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LOT 104 A MID 19TH CENTURYDIAMOND, TURQUOISE AND RUBY SNAKE NECKLACE Designed as an old cut diamond and cabochon turquoise set bright cut engraved ‘head’, with ruby eyes and carved teeth, all mounted to ‘scale’ links, presented within original box, 39cm long, weight approx 35.4g Jewellery formed of snakes was very popular in the Victorian period and looking at this example you can see why. The sinuous form of a snake lends itself perfectly to necklaces and chains. Snakes also represented ‘eternal love’, so they were ideal for conveying sentiment and meaning in jewellery.

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LOT 126 A MURRLE BENNETT & CO PERIDOT BROOCH Designed as a central trap cut peridot claw set within Art Nouveau yellow metal mount set with single seed pearl, the reverse stamped ‘15ct’ together with makers mark for Murrle Bennett & Co, 3cm wide, weight approx 2.9g The Arts and Crafts movement is arguably one of the most appreciated in history and the company Murrle Bennett & Co is a name synonymous with the period. This understated and beautiful brooch is a perfect example of the designs they revered for.

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LOT 132 A LATE 19TH/EARLY 20TH CENTURY DIAMOND AND PEARL HINGED BANGLE Designed as seven baroque pearls peg set within white metal openwork band and interspersed with six old cut diamond set stylised leaves, weight approx 12.6g (at fault) NOTE : With accompanying F.C.Maner & Sons receipt dated 16/12/92 Although this pearl and diamond bangle dates from the turn of the century, it has very modern connection to Shropshire. It comes with a purchase receipt dated 16th December 1992 from F.C.Maner & Sons; a well-known high end antiques business which opened in 1944 and only closed its doors in 2016. Looking at the date on the receipt it may have been bought for a special Christmas present.

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LOT 136 A PLATINUM DIAMOND HALF HOOP ETERNITY RING Designed as a chequered row of fourteen rectangular cut diamonds channel set in platinum, the shank hallmarked London 2004, ring size N, weight approx 7.1g If you think auction houses just sell antiques, think again. This modern platinum half hoop diamond set eternity ring was only made in 2004 and can be picked up for a quarter of the price as a brand new one!

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LOT 146 AN EARLY 20TH CENTURY AMETHYST PENDANT Designed as a hexagonal faceted amethyst milligrain set in yellow metal suspended from knife edge bar and mounted with a round mixed cut amethyst, with 9ct gold chain, total weight approx 6.7g Amethysts are not an uncommon stone and are often seen in both modern and antique jewellery. The way this drop has been faceted though, in hexagonal form, makes it really stand out from the crowd, and although it was made around 100 years ago, it would not look out of place in modern jewellery shop window.

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LOT 161 A 19TH CENTURY RED SPINEL AND DIAMOND RING Designed as two oval/pear faceted red spinels claw set within a stylised double heart border of old cut diamonds, the yellow metal shank not stamped, ring size K, weight approx 4.3g (at fault) Almost everyone will have heard of rubies and will probably own, or know someone that owns, a piece of jewellery set with the red stone. Spinel’s however, as seen in this ring, are far less ‘famous’. Despite their mystery they are extremely sought after, in some cases even more so than rubies. Their vibrant red hue is immediately recognisable and is often described as a ‘strawberry’ or ‘sweet’ red, compared to a rubies ‘pigeon blood’ red.

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LOT 164 A 19TH CENTURY NAVETTE DIAMOND RING Designed as a central row of three graduated old cushion cut diamonds claw set within a navette border of eighteen further diamonds, all claw set in white metal to yellow metal shank, stamped ‘18’ and engraved ‘Jan 27th 18**’, ring size V, weight approx 6.1g PROVENANCE Belonged to Lady Turner, nee Smith (1869- 1967), given by her husband Sir John Turner KT JPDL (18531930) managing director of The Moira Colliery, Donisthorpe, Leicestershire. She was the daughter of Edward Smith,a tea merchant for Averill & Smith, born Frederick Road, Edgebaston In my opinion, an object with a story to tell is far more desirable than one without. Which is why provenance, however trivial, is an asset to a catalogue description. Although the individuals named in the history behind this ring are not hugely eminent figures in history, the fact we know a little about one of its custodians is a real treat.

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