posted 12-28-2003 07:08 PM            

See also in the New Members' Forum Favorite pieces

posted 01-03-2004 11:21 PM            

The rest of the year (although I rarely use it anymore) is would have to be a French 1755 Strasbourg beaker I have. It was given to a Jacob LUMER who was evidently a “receveur” or sort of tax collector for the town of “Fort Louis du Rhin”. The town is still there, but unfortunately the records tell nothing of Mr. Lumer or the beaker. I believe it is likely to be a gift from the government (king?) for services rendered, but neither I nor friends have ever found out more. It is one of those mysteries, I guess I will never solve.

posted 03-18-2004 01:47 AM            

One of my areas of collecting is later decorated flatware. I know that purists contemplate these "tarted up" pieces with horror, but I find them interesting. This Francis Archbold Britannia standard TREFID from 1701 has been chased and swaged in mid-Victorian times. I guess it's those pixie faces that get to me.

I found this spoon in Harrogate, England. My husband had only given me 30 minutes to go spoon hunting, and I'd never been in the city before. Fortunately, I happened upon The Ginnel, an antique mart, and went flying through it. I was really ignorant about British marks at that time, but I bought on instinct--this spoon was just too weird to pass up. After I got home I looked up some references and found out what I'd got. This spoon gave me my start on collecting later decorated English flatware.

posted 05-12-2005 12:47 PM            

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These historical items can be fascinatingly tantalizing, and at the same time frustrating. I have been trying for some time to trace the origns of a tankard, too. I know the owners name, parentage, birth and death, English title, and and military rank. The tankard has only a maker's mark, and so could be of Colonial origin, but I have yet to find where he served during most of his career when he seems to have been absent from England and could have been in the Colonies. Someday . . . .

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akgc responded with the following:

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What about your tankard? What is the inscription on it? Maybe someone on these forums will have a suggestion.

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I have finally gotten around to addressing Adam's request, as I have not yet found the necessary information to resolve the remaining questions. it can be found in the British forum in the thread entitled Lord Bertie's Mug.

posted 06-24-2005 03:52 PM            

I don't often look in this section. The brooch you show (1st Page of this topic, crowned heart)looks remarkably like a Scottish Luckenbooth or "Witches Heart" Brooch, an old traditional SCOTTISH piece of jewellery often given for a betrothal or to ward off evil from a baby. They were sold on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh and date back to the 17th century. I believe they were called luckenbooths because they were sold from locked booth's on the Royal Mile, but this name may not have been adopted until the 19th century. I have seen examples in the museum in my nearest town, Aberdeen, and also in Edinburgh itself and they are very similar. It is possible that your brooch is late 18th/early 19th century by James Douglas of Dundee, as luckenbooths were not exclusively made in Edinburgh, but it looks like it could be earlier. Could be wide of the mark though, but it wouldn't surprise me if it is Scottish. It's remarkable how much early British and Scottish Silver turns up at your side of the pond. I just bought a Queen Anne marrow scoop online for a reasonable sum. Makes you wander if it was taken over all those years ago. You will see a much plainer luckenbooth here, but the hinge is very similar:

Do a Internet search for it and you will see lots of modern examples. Antique examples are rare, especially if they are provincial.