Original Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Company, Regent Street, London, Presentation Case
There is something rather special about opening a box that has remained with its original silver for more than a century. This elegant solid sterling silver sauce ladle was crafted by the celebrated Sheffield silversmiths Martin Hall & Co Ltd and assayed in 1915, before being retailed through one of Britain’s most prestigious luxury jewellers, The Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Company Ltd of 112 Regent Street, London, holders of a Royal Warrant.
Beautifully balanced and made in the timeless Old English pattern, it displays the restrained elegance that characterised the finest English silver of the Edwardian period. Its generous bowl and graceful proportions make it as practical today as when it first left the workshop over a century ago.
Most remarkably, it survives complete with its original fitted presentation case, lined in rich crimson velvet and cream silk bearing the retailer’s Royal Warrant. Sets that have remained together for more than one hundred years are becoming increasingly difficult to find.
A fascinating detail is the “PAT. No. 9448” stamped discreetly beneath the bowl. Rather than indicating a pattern number, it records a patented method of manufacture employed by Martin Hall & Co., demonstrating the firm’s investment in technical innovation as well as craftsmanship. Small details such as this are appreciated by collectors, adding another layer of authenticity and historical interest to an already charming piece.
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A Piece from the First World War
This ladle was hallmarked in 1915, during the second year of the Great War.
Britain was adjusting to a conflict that few imagined would last beyond Christmas. The battles of Neuve Chapelle, Loos and the tragic Gallipoli campaign all took place that year, while thousands of young men from Sheffield and across Britain left home for the Western Front.
Despite wartime uncertainty, Britain’s great silversmiths continued producing pieces of exceptional quality for homes where tradition, ceremony and family dining remained important. This ladle is one such survivor—a domestic object that has outlived the generation who first purchased it and now stands as a tangible link to Edwardian Britain during one of history’s most turbulent years.
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Martin Hall & Co Ltd
Founded in the early nineteenth century, Martin Hall became one of Sheffield’s most respected manufacturers of sterling silver and fine electroplate. Their work earned an international reputation for quality, craftsmanship and elegant design, supplying leading retailers throughout Britain, including London’s finest jewellers.
Pieces bearing the Martin Hall name remain highly regarded by collectors for their superb finish, timeless styling and enduring quality.
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The Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Company
The fitted case bears the printed Royal Warrant of The Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Company Ltd, one of London’s foremost luxury retailers.
Situated at 112 Regent Street, the company supplied fine silver, jewellery and presentation pieces to wealthy private clients and members of the Royal Household. Purchasing silver from them was rather like buying from Garrard, Asprey or Mappin & Webb—an assurance of quality, prestige and impeccable taste.
The survival of the original fitted retailer’s case considerably enhances both the desirability and collectability of this piece.
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Condition
Presented in excellent antique condition.
The silver retains crisp hallmarks and a lovely polished finish with only the light surface marks expected after more than 110 years of careful use.
The fitted presentation case remains in very good condition with attractive gilt tooling. The crimson velvet interior remains rich in colour, while the cream silk lining still proudly displays the original retailer’s Royal Warrant. As expected for a case of this age there is some gentle age-related discolouration and minor wear to the silk, adding to its authenticity.
Overall, this is a beautifully preserved example that displays exceptionally well.
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Measurements
* Maker: Martin Hall & Co Ltd * Assay Office: Sheffield * Hallmarked: 1915 * Pattern: Old English * Length: 126mm * Weight: 30.64g * Presentation Case: 170mm × 85mm × 30mm
From TicketyBoo Finds
Interesting antiques chosen for their character, craftsmanship and the stories they carry through history.
If you enjoy unusual silver, antiques and well-made objects with genuine provenance, do have a look at my other listings—I am always adding carefully selected pieces with heritage worth preserving.