What's New?
We are constantly updating this web-site. This page is designed to help regular browsers to see at a glance what information or new categories have recently been added.
N.B. New stock items for sale will be added to the top of the relevant listing in the items for sale section.
Recent Additions
April '08 - New category - antique silver items with some form of Medical interest - administering medicine, medical instruments, dentistry, optometry, medical related silver etc.
February '08 - easier payment. We have now added a fully integrated shopping cart giving wider payment options and quicker checkout. Direct credit/debit cards payments are now available. No Paypal accounts are necessary, but can still be used if preferred. If you prefer card payments can also be made by fax or telephone. Shopping baskets can be viewed using the "view basket" link at the top of each page. Existing clients can continue to make contact or payment in the same way as before. To view all the payment options please click this link - payment and order options.
December 07 - We have recently made changes to certain web-pages and as a result they have been re-named. You may need to re-set your bookmark.
August '07 - New category web-page added - "Curiosities". This page is for those items that on first view one thinks "What the devil is that?". Tongue scrapers, cucumber saws, nipple shields...
July '07 - New category web-page added - "Novelties". We have always been attracted to clever and inventive designs. This web-page will be a showcase for those items that are both practical to use and interesting to look at, yet do not fall under an existing heading e.g. Sampson Mordan, Pin Cushions etc.
May '07 - regular visitors to this page will not have seen much change for a while! Although we are still very active searching for those rare and desirable items, the arrival of our second son (and the subsequent time involved) has prevented the opportunity of adding new information to the site. It is my longer term aim to expand the site further with plenty more information pertaining to antique spoons, canteens and collectables. We are grateful for all the kind words we receive and appreciate your patience.
August '06 At long last a top quality dvd for silver collectors is on the market. We are pleased to be selling "A Video Guide To Collecting Silver" . It is an excellent 58 minute programme comprehensively covering aspects of silver that are particularly suited to an audio visual medium.
June '06 New collectables categories - Card Cases and Vesta Cases
April '06 A fine collection of snuff boxes is being offered at this page - snuff boxes. Two more new categories have been added - bookmarks/paper knives and child's silver. The latter includes items that are suitable for presentation to children and babies to mark events such as births and Christenings, in addition rattles are currently included under this title.
April '06 Two more new non-spoons categories have been added. Menu Holders have always been a popular item that we have sold and the highly collectable silverware made by the innovative firm of Sampson Mordan & Co.
March '06 Due to the success of our other non-flatware pages we have decided to expand the web-site beyond spoons and into other collectable areas, namely Boxes (inc. vinaigrettes, patch & snuff boxes, vesta & card cases), Pin Cushions and Scent Bottles. More categories will follow. If there are any categories that you would like to be added please let us know.
March '06 We have finally given up on keeping the spammers away from our guest-book and have therefore reluctantly withdrawn this facility. Thanks to everybody who made kind comments.
December '05 Sauce Labels - the less common relative to the wine label. A new section devoted entirely to these tiny gems.
September '05 Wine labels? They may not be used for eating with, but at least they are flat! As many spoon collectors are also interested in other small silver collectables, we thought we would add a new section devoted to bottle tickets/wine labels. Please click here for a selection from our current wine labels stock.
September '05 A listing and price guide for our loose flatware/canteen components stock (sets of 4,6, 8, 12 etc) of Old English, Fiddle and Hanoverian Rattail Patterns. Please click here.
September '05 Further additions to the links page.
August 05 New Selling Category - 20th Century Spoons, including Arts & Crafts, Art Nouveau, Art Deco etc. Makers such as Omar Ramsden and Georg Jensen will be included under this heading.
June '05 Additions and updates to the hallmarks page.
February '05 A new page devoted to engraving. Learn about why silver is engraved, understand their meanings and find out how engraving styles evolved.
February '05 A new book on the market. Please see the review for East Anglia Silver 1550-1750 at only £15 it is a must have.
January '05 Updates and additions to many pages.
December '04 A new book on the market. Please see the review for Eighteenth century Silver Tea Tongs and contact us if you wish to buy a copy of this limited edition title.
October '04 Additional items to Glossary
August '04 Due to popular demand we have now separated English Provincial and Colonial/Foreign silver in to their own sections. Pre-1700 provincial spoons will remain in the Early Spoons section.
July '04 We are proud to offer 104 spoons from the 2nd John Norie Caddy Spoon Collection. Please click this link to view.
June '04 New book reviews for Hester Bateman, Sussex Silver & It's Makers, & Salisbury Silver & It's Makers
June '04 Yet another new guestbook. We always appreciate the kind comments left by people, but our old guest book was constantly bombarded by spammers. This guest book was kindly tailor made for us by a satisfied visitor to our site who could see and resolve our problem. Many thanks Paul.
May '04 New book reviews for Barnstable Silver and Its Makers & West Country Silver Spoons and Their Makers, 1550-1750
April '04 We are proud to offer 32 caddy spoons from The John Norie Collection (author of the book "Caddy Spoons"). Many of those on sale are illustrated in the book, so this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to buy a spoon depicted in THE text book on the subject. Please click this link.
April '04 We are pleased to offer the following highly sought after copies of Tim Kent's books:- Barnstable Silver and Its Makers * London Silver Spoon Makers 1500-1697 * Salisbury Silver & It's Makers 1550-1700 * Sussex Silver & It's Makers * West Country Silver Spoons and Their Makers, 1550-1750 *
February '04 Updated and improved indices for books of use to the silver spoon collector. Silver Spoon Books Introduction.
January '03 Updated biographies of the Bateman family members & additions to Glossary (more to come in the near future).
September '03 Due to recent holidays and moving premises we have been unable to update the site. Rest assured we have plenty of new spoons in stock to be added in early October when normal service will resume.
July '03 Canteen Makers. Short biographies and the maker's marks of most of the well known producers of silver flatware and canteens from the late 19th and 20th centuries. Gleened from many different sources and taking a considerable amount of time, this is probably the only place you will find all this information in one place.
June '03 New & improved guestbook. The old guestbook was continually being wiped by server problems. So I've reverted to one provided by www.guestbook.nu . Thanks to those of you that signed the old versions (in some cases several times!) it would be great if you could do it again for one final time. If you are pleased with your purchases or find this web site interesting/useful please do take the time to sign the book as it is appreciated & does encourage us to add more! Please note that all sections are optional.
June '03 New and much anticipated new book; A Directory of Scottish Provincial Silversmiths & Their Marks by Richard W. Turner. Please read our review - available from us for only £18 plus £1 P&P (UK).
June '03 Something a bit different and as far as we are aware the only ones currently available - CD ROM's and a video entitled A Brief History of the Spoon both by Colin Ticktum.
May '03 All recently sold items are now briefly summarised at the bottom of each selling page with links to the photos - this should improve downloading times!
May '03 Paul Storr biography.
April '03 Caroline and I are proud to announce the arrival of Joseph, our baby son. I've had a few weeks off for paternity leave - apologies for not updating the site over this period. Once things have settled down a bit, I will be adding plenty of new spoons, plus I have more ideas for articles and useful information. If you have any ideas I would be interested to hear from you.
Mar '03 Guestbook - We would be grateful for your comments; whether you are a new or regular browser, or an existing customer.
Mar '03 Additions to Glossary.
Feb '03 Measures Conversion Charts - We use metric measures throughout - if you are more conversant with imperial then try our conversion charts.
Feb '03 Currency Exchange Charts - To gain an idea of the value of the items for sale in your local currency, try out the currency exchange charts.
Feb '03 New book reviews: Banister, Judith - "English Silver Hallmarks", Belden, G and Snodin, M - "Spoons", Grimwade, A G - London Goldsmiths: 1697 - 1837, Norie, John - Caddy Spoons an Illustrated Guide
Jan '03 Links page - more links are anticipated in the future and we welcome any suggestions.
Jan '03 Glossary - definitions of jargon and technical terms (& still being updated!)
Jan '03 Hallmarks - their purpose and recognition