List of Illustrations

 

 

Note

In the following list, due to the fact that hallmarking on the Continent of Europe was very haphazard and inconsistent when these toys were made, I have entered information which I am either certain is correct in some cases or judge to be correct in other cases.

 

Abbreviations

AC Author’s Collection

ac   Date of acquisition

D    Depth

Di   Diameter

H    Height

L    Length

M   Maker

P    Price paid

 

Frontispiece: A Victoran kitchen, equipped with silver toys. AC.

1.        Painting by William Hogarth, c. 1730: A Children’s Party, showing a dog

upsetting a child’s silver tea set. Unknown private collection.

2.        Dutch date stamping system, 1814–1960.

3.        Alphabetical hallmarks.

4.        An early Dutch doll’s house, c. 1800. Courtesy Bethnal Green Museum of          

Childhood.                                                                                                        

5.        John Evelyn’s doll’s house, in Geffrye Museum, London.

6.        Westbrook doll’s house, showing kitchen with silver miniature pots

hanging on the wall. Courtesy of Victoria & Albert Museum.

7.        The Victorian lounge in my doll’s house, using 25 pieces of silver from

my own collection which are a mixture of English and Dutch pieces.

Total value (2011): £900.

8.        Small tea set and tray, M: Saunders & Sheperd, Birmingham, 1905, ac:

Sep. 2010, P: £236, AC.

9.        Miniature taper stick, detachable sconce and snuffer, M: Yapp & Woodward, Birmingham, 1847, 23gm, ac: Sep. 2010, P: £140. AC.

10.     Victorian silver dog, typical of those made in Schoonhoven, Holland, mid

19th c, no markings, 11gm, ac: June 2010, P: £35, AC.

11.     Silver bench, no markings. Dutch, possibly late 18th c, L: 231mm,

18gm, ac: Dec. 2010, P: £67, AC.

12.     Coffee pot, made in Amsterdam in 18th c, numerous unrecognisable

markings, H: 69mm, 39gm, ac: Jan 2010, P: £75, AC.

13.     Miniature lamp designed as a child’s compact, complete with powder puff, Birmingham 1912, H: 70cm, 41gm, ac: June 2007, P: £85, AC.

14.     Dutch model of an elf with a barrel, no recognisable markings. Possibly

made in Schoonhoven, 20th century. Courtesy of eBay seller Mattachewey.            

15.     Sleigh pulled by horse. Markings, FAL over a dot. All enclosed in a

diamond. Made in Schoonhoven, Holland, poss. 19th c, L: 70mm, 22gm,

ac: Mar. 2008, P: £35, AC.

16.     Horse and driver pulling log wagon, silver, blackened with age and grime,

no maker’s mark, typical of toys made in Amsterdam, early 19th c, L:

90mm,  34gm, ac: Feb. 2008, eBay, P: £110, AC.

17.     Large sleigh with driver. Pulled by two oxen and led by a man. Inside the

sleigh are three figures inc. a woman with umbrella. The seat has red velvet upholstery, c. 19th c., made in Holland, figure ‘1’ stamped on sleigh, town mark

and maker’s mark, L: 78mm, 51gm, ac: Feb. 2005,  P: £60, AC.                            

18.     Fine and rare example of 19th c. Dutch craftsmanship. Royal coach pulled

by six horses. Marks: rampant lion, maker’s mark and date stamp 1851.

L 80mm, 83gm, ac: Nov. 2010, P: £300, AC./p>

19.     Circus tableau showing a clown and a horseman about to jump a high wire.

M: Leendert Hoogwinkel (1749–1831), Dordrecht, Holland, 55gm, ac: Oct.

2009, P: £56, AC.

20.     Horsedrawn water carriage for irrigation purposes inc. driver. No maker’s

mark, poss. early 20th c, Dutch,  L: 80mm, H: 50mm, 33gm, ac: July 2005, 

P: £13, AC.

21.     Riderless horse carriage. Markings: epose france printed underneath,

otherwise no markings, L: 74mm, H: 34mm, 26gm, ac: Aug. 2009, P: £14, AC.           

22.     Classic sleigh tableau, showing mid 19th c Dutch marks, with Dutch year

letter O (1847) and ‘xxx’ mark. Maker’s initials DR. L: 80mm, 37gm, ac:

Nov.  2010, P: £90, AC.

23.     20th c teapot, M: David Hollander & Son, Birmingham, 1977, H: 30mm,

12gm, ac: Feb. 2008, P: £25, AC.

24.     Toy tennis racket, no markings, L: 45mm, 2gm, ac: Dec. 2004, P: £5, AC.

25.     Silver bowl, M: Horace Woodward & Co., Birmingham, 1884, 12gm, H:

24mm, ac: Nov. 2010, P: £40. AC.

26.     Kettle on stand with burner, M: Levi & Salaman, Birmingham, 1905, H:

57mm, 16gm, ac: Sep. 2009, P: £85, AC.

27.     Long silver tray with cups, saucers, cream, and sugar bowls, M: Saunders & Sheperd, Birmingham, 1905, L:140mm, 32gm, ac: Nov. 2009, P: £225, AC.         

28.     Miniscule 8-piece tea service inc. tea strainer and sugar tongs, M: Don Henry, Canada, 2010, L: 55mm, 28gm, marked, ac: Sep. 2010, P: £410. AC.

29.     Displayed version of  tea service described in Figure 28.

30.     Jersey cream jug, M: W. Griffiths, Birmingham, 1904, H: 42mmm, 11gm,

ac: Jan. 2009, P: £50, AC.

31.     Three-piece tea service on tray, M: Saunders & Sheperd, Birmingham, 1905,

34gm, ac: May 2009, P: £230, AC.

32.     Dutch miniature village musicians: 20th century copy. P: €130. Courtesy of

Holland House of Silver Toys.

33.     Three wise men and moveable star, made in Holland. H: 90mm, D: 3mm, 45gm;

similar version in V&A. Year mark D 1838, ac: May 2009, P: £148, AC

34.     Two-handled pot, Birmingham, 1927, M: unrecognised, H: 40mm, 9gm,

ac: Mar. 2009, P: £40. AC.

35.     Hanua silver watering can, imported, Chester, 1904, M: Samuel Boyce

Landeck, 24gm, ac: Mar. 2009, P: £60. AC.

36.     Pair of bedchamber sticks, Birmingham, 1866, D: 35mm, H: 15mm, 13gm,

ac: June 2008, P: £132, AC.

37.     Lord Clapham’s sword and scabbard, London, 1690–1700. Courtesy of

Victoria & Albert Museum.

38.     Miniature silver tankard, London, 1715–16. M: George Manjoy. Courtesy

of  Victoria & Albert Museum.                                                                    

39.     George III miniature teapot, M: Rebecca Emes & Edward Barnard I, London,

1809, H: 3.3”, 116.8gm, valued at £2350. Property of AC Silver Antiques.

40.     Pair of Victorian chambersticks, Birmingham, 1892. M: William Comyns,

14gm, ac: Feb 2011, P: £181. AC.

41.     English miniature salver, London, 1709-10. M: David Clayton. Courtesy of Victoria & Albert Museum.

42.     Walking the dog, Dutch, poss. Hoorn, no markings, typical mid 18th c, 8gm,

ac: Nov. 2010, P: £34, AC.

43.     Spinning wheel, Dutch, poss. Schoonhoven, no markings, mid 19th c,  H:

53mm, 16gm, ac: Oct. 2009, P: £24, AC.

44.     Dutch chair, 18th c, no markings, four similar chairs in V&A, H: 44mm,

9gm, ac: Mar. 2008, P: £40, AC.

45.     Windmill, Dutch, mid 19th c, poss. Hoorn (renowned for their quality toy windmills) no recognisable marks, H: 80mm, 41gm, ac: Jan. 2011, P: £35, AC.

46.     Sedan chair, probably Dutch, no markings (exempt), H: 43mm 12gm, ac:

Jan. 2007, P: £48, AC.

47.     Rickshaw with passenger, no details, H: 65mm L: 75mm, 30gm, ac: May

2009, P: £25, AC.

48.     Miniature two-handled cup, London. 1714–15. M: William Looker. Courtesy

of Victoria & Albert Museum.

49.     Pair of English miniature toast racks, Birmingham, 1919, hallmarked, 4cm

x 6cm. P: £81. Courtesy of Gwenysgems.

50.     Wicker basket, M: Montague Fiedlander, Chester, 1899, H: 65mm, 8gm, ac:

Aug. 2010, P: £58, AC.

51.     Brazier, Dutch, 18th c, poss. Schoonhoven, no markings, H: 28mm, 6gm, ac:

Dec. 2010, P: £38, AC.

52.     Sailing boat with crew, Dutch, poss. Hoorn, 1975. H: 120mm, 44gm, ac:

June 2006, P: £78, AC.

53.     Cup or trophy with lid, M: William Devenport, Birmingham, 1913, H:

78mm, 18gm, ac: Jan. 2010, P: £40. AC.

54.     Modern model of 800 silver medieval mortar, marked, H: 45mm, 112gm, ac:

Nov. 2010, P: £63. AC.

55.     Dutch tankard, 18th c, unfortunately over-embellished with Victorian cherubs, many

marks on base, inc. import Chester, H: 52mm, 22gm, ac: Sep. 2007, P: £75, AC.         

56.     Miniature silver table, no markings, made in Dutch style, 17gm, ac: Sep.

2010, P: £57, AC.

57.     Two-handled bowl, good quality, M: Mappin & Webb, Sheffield, 1897, Di

(bowl): 60mm, H: 50, 64gm, ac: Jan. 2008, P: £47, AC.

58.     Miniature silver mug, M: Saunders & Sheperd, Chester, 1895, clear markings,

H: 20mm, 3gm, ac: Sep. 2010, P: £40, AC.

59.     English miniature saucepan, London, 1720. M: David Clayton. Courtesy of

Victoria & Albert Museum.

60.     Bucket, marked 900 silver, otherwise no markings, believed Irish, H: 55mm,

Di: 55mm, 26gm, ac: July 2009, P: £27, AC.

61.     Basket, Birmingham, 1901, no makers’ mark, L: 79mm, H: 65mm, 32gm, ac:

Sep. 2009, P: £15, AC.

62.     Basket, Rotterdam, 19th c, D: 35mm, 18gm, ac: Oct. 2009, P: £81, AC.

63.     Magnificent filigree rocking chair, Continental, no markings (exempt),

exquisite workmanship, H: 50mm, 11gm, ac: June 2008, P: £55, AC.

64.     Tiny cut-glass Cayenne pepper bottle in silver frame, complete with silver

cayenne spoon, M: Saunders & Sheperd, Chester, 1897, H: 60mm, 16gm, ac:

Aug. 2008, P: £175, AC.

65.     Two  chairs, Birmingham, 1901, H: 42mm, 11gm, ac: Feb. 2007, P: £75, AC.

66.     Pepper shaker, M: Levi & Salaman, Birmingham, 1897, H: 60mm, 23gm, ac:

Oct. 2009, P: £44. AC.

67.     Filigree sailing ship, no markings. H: 77mm, L: 80mm, 16gm, ac: Mar. 2011,

P: £10. AC.

68.     Dutch 19th c. preserving pan and cover, L: 115mm, 28gm, ac: Jan. 2010, P:

£130. AC.

69.     Table set, Amsterdam, marked ‘xxx’  and S2V; cup: D: 17mm H: 11mm,

4gm; saucer: D: 29mm, 7gm; plate: D: 32mm, 5gm; spoon: L: 45mm, 3gm,

ac: Nov. 2010, P: £41, AC.                                                                      

70.     Dutch spinning wheel, poss. 19th c, no marks, H: 90mm, L: 80mm, 54gm, ac:

Oct. 2010, P:  £50, AC.

71.     Pair candelabras, Amsterdam, 1905, maker’s mark: single bushy top tree and sword, H: 47mm, W: 42mm, ac: Feb. 2005, P: £10, AC.                                        

72.     Dutch, manually operated bridge: date letter B = 1836, rampant lion, maker’s

mark (JV and hammer) all in rectangle, and a head facing left inside a circle;

H: 90mm, L: 80mm, 71gm, similar version in V&A, ac: Sep. 2009,

P: £50, AC.

73.     Dutch model of man on toboggan, 19th c; markings unclear. Courtesy of eBay seller Eleanor.

74.     Dutch three-masted schooner in full sail with three crew, M: J. van Dijik

(active 1901–39), Hoorn, 20th c, H: 115mm, L: 115mm, 51gm, ac: Aug.

2007, P: £75. AC.

75.     Dutch two-masted sail boat on plinth, 20th century, probably Hoorn or Schoonhoven, marked 925 silver, L: 95mm, H: 114mm, 73 gm, ac: Jan. 2011,

P: £75. AC.

76.     Dutch snake cup, very rare, even as a copy, which this is. Made 1838. Clear maker’s marks: two reversed crescents, but maker unknown. H: 47mm, 24gm,

ac: Apr. 2011, P: £120.

77.     Dutch linen press, unmarked, 18th c, no markings; the linen press was popular among Dutch silversmiths; examples by Arnoldus van Geffen, Daniel van

Strant of Amsterdam, 1754, Jan Bonket and Abraham Effemans (script from Christie’s auction catalogue, 16 Nov. 2010); copy in V&A; H: 89mm, 32gm,

ac: Jan. 2011, P: £120, est. value: £1200. AC.

78.     Silver filigree platter, maker and country unknown, unmarked. ac: Feb. 2011,

P: £30.

79.     Dutch silver miniature toy teapot, Amsterdam, 1767, maker’s mark unclear, H: 45mm. Est. auction value: £1000–£1500. Courtesy of Christie’s Images Ltd.

80.     Crossbow, 800 grade silver, no makers name, ac: Jan. 2011, P: £110. AC.

81.     Two modern silver chairs, hallmarks not clear, H: 63mm, 27 gm, £35. AC.

82.     Dutch silver miniature toy coffee urn, early 18th c, marks unclear, on three

scroll feet with three taps, est. auction value: £1500–£2500. Courtesy of Christie’s Images Ltd.                                                                                                   

83.     Rare pair of William III or Queen Anne Scottish silver miniature toy thistle

cups, only one handle. Glasgow, c.1700, mark of Thomas Cummings, original

est. auction value: £2000–£3000. Courtesy of Christie’s Images Ltd.               

84.     Dutch silver miniature toy teapot, Amsterdam, c. 1720. M: Fredrik van Strant

I, est. auction price: £1200–£1800. Courtesy of Christie’s Images Ltd.

85.     Dutch silver miniature toy cruet stamped 10 with crowned circle, poss. 19th c.

W: 88mm. Est. auction price: £1500–£2500. Courtesy of Christie’s Images Ltd.

86.     Pot stand; marks on base: 6702 and three-legged table with number 800.  Di: 45mm, H: 25mm, 21gm, P: £25. AC.                                                               

87.     Dutch miniature Pijpencomfoo, 1737. M: Frederick van Trant II. Vendor’s

price: €2275. Courtesy of Holland House of Silver Miniatures.

88.     Settee marked ‘London, 1896’. Quite possibly imported into this country from Holland as it is stamped with the F import mark and has been embellished all

over with babies and cherubs by a Victorian silversmith. Maker’s initials

appear to be RN. L:50mm, H: 55mm, 19gm, P: £65. AC.

89.     Miniature silver coffee pot, London. M: David Clayton. Courtesy of Victoria

 & Albert Museum.

90.     English miniature jug, London, 1688–89. M: George Manjoy. Courtesy of

Victoria & Albert Museum.

91.     Selection of miniature silver, London, 1720. M: David Clayton. Courtesy of Victoria & Albert Museum.                                                                          

92.     20th c English coffee pot, part of a four-piece set, Sheffield, 1902, M:

J & J Maxfield Ltd, who specialised in silver toys; H: 45mm, 15gm, ac: Feb

2010, P: £40.

93.     Dutch working spinning wheel, markings, London import, H: 77mm,  33gm,

ac: Feb. 2011, P: £57, AC.

94.     Dutch silver toy frying pan, 1750, M: Johannes van Somervil 1. Vendor’s

price: €950. Photo courtesy of Holland House of Silver Miniatures.


95.     Dutch 18th c corner chair with London import marks, 1901, H: 3mm, 13gm,

ac: Feb. 2011, P: £47, AC.

96.     Dutch toy jug, c. 1810, clear but unidentifiable markings on base, H: 47mm,

28 gm, ac: Feb. 2011, P: £35, AC.

97.     Cabinet on stand, London, 1703–4. M: George Manjoy.

98.     Dutch horseless carriage, with passengers and driver. No markings, 19th c,

30gm  P: £100. AC.

99.     English condiment set, London, 1730–1. M: David Clayton. Courtesy of

Victoria & Albert Museum.

100.  Two-handled jug, Birmingham, 1918. M: Levi & Salaman.

101.  Miniature spoon marked with owner’s initials, L: 81mm, 3gm, P: £96. AC.

102.  Dutch doll’s house silver candle snuffers, c. 1740. M: unknown. Vendor’s

price: €670. Courtesy of Holland House of Silver Miniatures.                          

103.  Silver miniature table, London, 1750, M: Edward Medycott. Courtesy of

Victoria & Albert Museum.

104.  Dutch skittle player, possibly Schoonhoven, 1848.

105. Pair of miniature candlesticks, London. 1720. M: unknown. Courtesy of

Victoria & Albert Museum.

106. Dutch toy tea kettle, 1765, Amsterdam, M: Master Arnold van Geffen.

Vendor’s price: €2100. Courtesy of  Holland House of Silver Miniatures.              

107. Bequest to Ashmolean Museum (a), Oxford, by Lady Henriques, 1953: Clockwise

from top centre: 1. Coffee urn, Amsterdam, H: 7cm. 2. Silver miniature coffee

urn on three legs, Amsterdam mark incorporating a letter N; maker's mark, Johannes Adrianus van Geffen (active 1766-98), H: 7.5cm. 3. Silver miniature spherical hot water urn on four-footed base, unmarked, H: 5cm. 4. Silver

miniature coffee pot on three feet, Amster-dam mark uncrowned, H: 5.9cm. 5. Silver-gilt miniature coffee urn on three legs, marked ‘AP’, H: 6.1cm. 6. Silver miniature coffee urn on three feet, unmarked, H: 7.7cm.

108. Bequest to Ashmolean Museum (b), Oxford, by Lady Henriques, 1953: L-R, top to bottom: 1.   Cylindrical jug with reeded sides, London, 1832–3, H: 5.1cm, M: Samuel Whitford II. 2. Plain jug, maker’s mark: TC, H: 5.6cm. 3. Miniature

silver jug, unmarked, H: 1.7cm. 4. Toast rack, London, 1833–4, M: Charles Rawlings and William Summers, L: 5.2cm. 5. Miniature silver cream jug, unmarked, H: 2.7cm. 6. Miniature silver fork, unmarked. 7. Miniature silver

knife, Sheffield, 1832, M: Atkin & Oxley, L: 11.8cm.