Silver Spoon Antiques

Corfu is one of the Greek Ionian islands. Although not the largest island geographically, it has been the one with the largest population for centuries. The British began to occupy the Ionian Islands after the defeat of Napoleon and reached Corfu in 1815. The period of English rule was generally a prosperous period for Corfu because the Greek language became official, new roads were built, the water supply system was improved and the first Greek University was founded in 1824. Although Corfu was never under the control of the Ottoman Empire, its inhabitants helped the rest of Greece financially during the Greek Revolution. On the 21st of May, 1864, the Ionian Islands were donated by the British to the new King of Greece, George I, annexed to the modern Greek state and have been an official part of it ever since. There hasn't been a lot of published research on the silver production of that period, but there are various attributed marks. These marks all include a ship with initials,

 We haven't been able to find much information on artist and silversmith Catherine L Charles.  She exhibited a self-portrait (pictured below) at the Royal Scottish Academy Annual Exhibition, 1928. She exhibited from 1928-37 in Edinburgh, Scotland and was quite active until at least 1946. At the Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh, she exhibited at least eight pieces and one other was shown at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool. Other examples by her include a winter mill scene and a still life of a vase with roses She was producing sterling silverware in the Arts and Crafts style in Scotland in the 1940s. A number of examples of her work can be found. Her maker's mark is 'CLC'. We have a number of pieces by her currently in stock.  A sterling butter fork by CL Charles Catherine's maker's mark and hallmarks for Edinburgh 1944 PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST, 1928.  (Courtesy Mellors and Kirks Auction via Invaluable)

Thomas Henry Raysmith started his business in 1876 in Newcastle, New South Wales as Watchmaker, Jeweller and Engraver.  He appears to have also been a silversmith. His work was quoted in the newspaper regarding "the immense number of Masonic jewels, medals, badges, and other trophies manufactured by him bearing testimony to their quality ". By the end of his career, he was know as Jeweller and Silversmith.  Below is a nice heavy colonial sterling serviette ring stamped 'RAYSMITH', made probably circa 1890-1900.  He closed his shop in the 1920s.  He passed away 1935 aged 77. Below is a gold pocketwatch by Raysmith. 

Various spoons have appeared with an interesting set of colonial pseudo hallmarks. So far only fiddle pattern teaspoons have been seen. Interestingly there are at least two sizes of teaspoons. Most have be found in Australia (although it has also turned up in England as well).  All of the spoons are found with four pseudo marks: A bird - most likely an emu or ostrich A crown Gothic letter C Leopards Head Also, a number of them are found with a maker's mark 'JM'   There have been some attempts to attribute this mark, but most confidently it can be said to be possibly Australian.  The engravings on the front of the various spoons seem to show a variety of engravers. Below are two examples.