Silver & Silver-plated items

This 4in (10cm) silver snuff box offered for sale at Veilinghuis de Jager in Goes, Zeeland was the subject of a learned article in the January-February Ghendtsche Tydingen, the magazine of the Ghent history society.

This George III Sheffield plated tea machine from c.1790 comprises a hot water urn with a domed cover and a telescoping finial with steam vent, as well as a pair of tea urns, all engraved with the Clan Colville crest and motto 'Oblier ne puis'.

This George I provincial silver coffee pot c.1720, offered by Elstob & Elstob (22% buyer’s premium) in Ripon on August 20, is a great rarity.

Delay due to lockdown turns out to be a blessing in disguise in terms of consignments

MADAM – Just to add to the provenance of the newly discovered Scottish disc-end spoon in your most recent edition (Pick of the week, ATG No 2456, sold at Lyon & Turnbull for £21,000).

Once the second city in the kingdom, Norwich had its own silver assay office during three periods between 1565 and 1702.

While most early Scottish spoon types follow closely known and comparable patterns from England or mainland Europe, the ‘disc-end’ is an exception. Made for perhaps a century from c.1580, it is a form seemingly unique to Scotland.

The centuries-old Indonesian habit of chewing betel nut, the fruit of the reach palm, was quickly adopted by settlers from the Dutch East India Company who appreciated both its psychoactive properties and its importance as a local social ritual.

Thousands of items are available to buy from dealers online. Here we pick out one that caught our eye this week.

Edward Haughey, Baron Ballyedmond (1944-2014) – the founder of the Norbrook pharmaceutical group in Northern Ireland – proved just as influential in the world of politics as he was in business.

This monumental late 19th century, three-piece presentation silver centrepiece measures 3ft 4in x 20in (1.02m x 51cm) and weighs 17lb 8oz or 255.21oz troy weight.

MADAM – Re the excellent account (News, ATG No 2454) of the silver cup presented to Charles Selby by Prince Charles Edward, may I correct a few errors?

Around the year 1904, during the Second Period of Belleek production in Fermanagh, Ulster, designer William Harris designed the Five O’Clock pattern.

A group of works of art from a country home once owned by members of the Rothschild family boosted the latest Woolley & Wallis auction.

Is this the silver cup given by Bonnie Prince Charlie to a trusted aide for his role in returning Jacobite gold to France? Auction house Spink and dealer Martyn Downer believe it is and are looking for a buyer at around £150,000.

Thousands of items are available to buy from dealers online. Here we pick out one that caught our eye this week.