German Novelty Silver Cat by Ludwig Neresheimer Co

Wired & PAT Tested to UK Specs From our Decorative collection we are delighted to offer this French Lion Table Lamp by Louis-Albert Carvin. The table lamp cast in Bronze and cold pa...

The Decanter of slim tapered form with bulbous body, splayed circular foot with pinched stem and shaped opening. The Decanter extensively decorated throughout the body with two large fern leaves stemming from a central tied ribbon in the form of a bow. The decanter features a rounded handle fitted to the upper half of the decanter with a hinged shaped lid opening with gravity. To the base of the decanter an engraving reading “Jesse Collings. from I. Chamberlain.” Hallmarked to the neck AM (Alexander Macrae), Lion passant (sterling silver), Leopard Head town mark for London, Date letter R (1872) and the sovereign head duty mark. The Decanter is complete with its original latched fitted box lined in purple velvet with gold stringing to the exterior and the retailers mark to the inside doors “Widdowson & Veale, Goldsmith & Jewellery, to the Court of Spain, 73 Strand London.” Widdowson & Veale George Widdowson (b. 1804 Lincoln – Died 1872 Dulwich Village) was a celebrated silversmith and goldsmith although he took the route of retailer rather than a craftsman and by the age of 28 he had taken over his uncle’s London shop on the Strand, London. His uncle John Salter had been a close friend of Lord Nelson’s daughter, Horatia, and was godfather to one of her children. The shop was very successful and John Salter had supplied Nelson with many pieces of jewellery, including mourning rings. Widdowson developed the shop into Widdowson & Veale located at No. 73 Strand on the corner of Adam Street and opposite the Adelphi. Widdowson had a real eye for marketing. He once had a detailed newspaper article dedicated to his proposal to make a copy of Aeneas’ shield, as described in Virgil’s Aeneid. There is no evidence the shield was ever made though it did get good publicity. The company made swords and other weapons for the British army and navy, orders and decorations for the British court and were goldsmiths and jewellers to the court of Spain. In 1842 on the christening of Queen Victoria’s eldest son (later King Edward VII), Widdowson’s eye for publicity meant that the firm gave a christening gift of ‘an immense silver coronet supporting the Prince of Wales feathers.’ Widdowson & Veale were also makers to HRH the Duke of Sussex and the Court of Spain. In 1844, George was 40 and his business was doing well, as was the economy as a whole. The firm were able to advertise for apprentices, asking for a premium of £100. On 11 February 1847 George married Eliza Duffield (nee Boville), the daughter of a Putney wine merchant who had been living in Gibraltar but returned when her first husband, John Duffield, died. George and Eliza were middle-aged when they married and did not have children. Alexander Macrae founder of the firm that went on to be C J Vander Ltd. Macrae was recorded at 32 Bow Street, Covent Garden, London September 1856. He was joined in partnership by Martin Goldstein c. 1870, whereupon the style of the firm was changed to Macrae & Goldstein – first listed in 1871 as a silversmith. Alexander Macrae supplied many of the great firms at that time such as Elkington, Harry Emanuel...

Amazing sterling silver full body cat in fine condition.Marked sterling & 925.

Highly Detailed Russian Silver, Soviet Period Persian Cat Sculpture with Garnet Eyes, 88 Zolotnik, Marked "S.W.," Circa 1950s A finely modeled and intricately chased hollow silver sculpture of a long-haired domestic cat, likely modeled after the Persian or Himalayan breed. The animal is depicted in a seated posture, with a stylized curling tail and attentive expression, rendered with lifelike depth and emotional presence. The rich fur texture is deeply chased and subtly polished across high points, creating dramatic surface contrast and a tactile, almost lifelike softness. The sculpture’s meticulous hand-chasing, naturalistic pose, and jewel-like eyes reflect the enduring influence of Karl Fabergé’s animalier tradition, particularly the small-scale silver and hardstone animal studies produced in his Moscow workshops at the turn of the 20th century. Like Fabergé’s celebrated menagerie, this piece captures both the anatomical accuracy and the spirited personality of its subject, elevating it from a decorative object to a work of art imbued with character and luxury. The figure's eyes are set with smooth red cabochon stones—likely garnets or finely colored glass paste—enhancing its realistic gaze. The underside bears a Russian silver hallmark, including the “88” zolotnik standard (equivalent to .916 silver purity), along with the Latin-letter maker’s mark “S.W.,” attributed to a postwar Soviet-era workshop producing fine export silver. Although the piece appears solid at first glance, it is finely executed as a sealed hollow-form casting using the lost-wax method, a traditional sculptural technique that allowed for rich surface modeling while minimizing weight. A faint rattle can be heard when the figure is gently moved, caused by a small remnant from the casting core or finishing process—a common occurrence in Russian and Continental silver animal figures...