Early Silver
Explore our earliest pieces of antique silver from the 16th and 17th centuries, these silver finds make the ultimate addition to any silver collection:

An extremely rare Henry VIII period silver apostle spoon of St James the Greater, from 1528.

Apart from the Swaythling set of apostle spoons (which we also own), this is believed to be the earliest item of hallmarked English silver for sale in the world at the present time-2022.

The London leopard’s head is struck in the bowl, and, on the reverse, there is a date letter and a “Fringed S” mark attributed to William Simpson. Simpson was apprenticed in 1499 to Robert Preston and was working, and using his own mark, from around 1510 – 1545.

 

 

An extremely rare Elizabeth I antique silver beaker made in 1589.

The beaker is secular 16th century, rather than religious. This exceptional beaker has an engraved upper border and stands on a chased foot. There is an almost imperceptible hint of gilt on the upper band. There is a very similar example in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

 

A magnificent William & Mary antique silver tazza of plain circular form made in 1693.

The foot is struck correctly with the sterling standard mark. It also has the original etched initials of “S B” on one side and “T” over “T M” on the other.

It is also engraved circa 1790 with: “Fellowship Hall St Mary at Hill”
Fellowship Porters Hall was built in 1786 at St Mary’s Hill, London and this tazza would have been used there for the 100 years after it was made (although clearly well cared for or little used!) The tazza would have been sold again in the late 19th century, when the Fellowship Porters Society was disbanded.