This piece is large enough for a tea set but perfect for serving drinks

A salver is not a tray .  Follow the link to find out why a salver is not a tray!

Dating from 1789 the coat of arms in the centre of this salver is so crisp.  If any one has any idea of who the original owners were from this coat of arms please let me know!

What is always special about Georgian silver is how it transcends the centuries .  This salver is 236 years old but would add style to any modern home.  The round border of the salver has an elegant beaded detail and this detail is repeated on the curved feet

Great condition

The straight drum shape has just a dimple beeded border top and bottom for decoration.

Tea was very precious  two centuries ago so would have been stored in a special container and locked away for safety.

What is extra special about this tea caddy is that even after more than 230 years it still has the key.!

The makers are Samuel Godbehere and Edward Wigan  

Samuel Godbehere has his portrait in the National Portrait Gallery, London

So old and so much history

The top centre one is Chinese Export silver – a rare find and dates from the mid 19th century.  Every face has been repousse worked with a different scene in incredible detail

The bottom left is an English silver snuff box  also early – it dates from 1832

The one on the bottom right is finely worked with a cross hatch design and is the youngest – it dates from 1907

Do get in touch if you would like more detail on any of these pieces

Sterling silver vinaigrettes are small, decorative boxes that were used whilst travelling as a more accessible and practical way of carrying perfume and scents rather than in large glass bottles or vials. The perfume or aromatic vinegar would be contained within these boxes soaked in a sponge.

The Chinese Export silver vinaigrette in the centre is particularly unusual – a rare piece.  The lid, base and sides are closely worked with different scenes.  The interior gilded grill is perfect condition.

The whole vinaigrette retains much of original overall gilding

The silver vinaigrette in the box is also unusual.   It dates from 1828 – almost two hundred years old and is still in its original box ! – obviously a much cared for piece

Note the fine work on the grill in the third vinaigrette – so small and yet so perfect.

For the collector it is essential that the inner grill is in perfect condition

The handles of these Georgian silver spoons were engraved and the bowls were chased and gilded in Victorian times when it became stylish for  “berry” spoons to be used  for serving fruits – strawberries and raspberries

These spoons are extra special because they are the work of Peter and William Bateman 

This wine funnel is more substantial in form than the more traditional style

The scalloped bowl is finely done

This wine funnel once belonged to an important person – note the coat of arms

Perfect gift for the extra special red wine lover in your life

The quality of the craftsmanship of these fine silversmiths can be seen in profusion with this pot

The finial is in the form of a bud and flower and foliage detail has been worked on the round body of the pot.  This was very much the style of the 1820’s – a tea pot a la mode!

The pot stands on cast feet with shell detail

Nearly two hundred years old and yet the detail is still very crisp

A very special cup of tea!

Amazing that after so much time the elegant lines of the ladle would fit in a modern home

The handle of the ladle has bead detail and there is a stylised initial engraved on the top

The bowl is worked in the shell form – very popular at that time.

Great condition and weight , this ladle could be used for serving all manner of foods besides soups

The English really liked their Bordeaux or claret wines

To enjoy these the wines had to be decanted and put through a seive to get rid of the sediment

This English silver wine funnel dates from more than 100 years ago.

As you can see from the photograph with the wine funnel in pieces there is a small ring.

A piece of gauze would be held by that ring at the base of the body of the funnel

Pour your beautiful precious bordeaux wine through the funnel into a claret jug

And serve!

This one is a classic English silver wine funnel dating from the reign of William IV

There is a coat of arms engraved on the main body

The wine funnel takes apart so a fine piece of gauze be used to seive the wine

The spoons date from Georgian times but the fine engraving and chasing were done in Victorian times when these sets became very popular.

These spoons are gilded silver because they would have been used to serve acidic fruits – from the family orangerie!

Different times but still the same use – serving vegetables and fruits