Silver Spoon Antiques

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. 

Elizabeth Bainbridge is the only nineteenth century Dublin female silversmith we've come across. Her work comes up reasonably often, but aside from her name and that she was a watchmaker, we couldn’t easily find any other information.   It appears Elizabeth was the wife of long time Dublin watchmaker George Bainbridge. They married in 1768, with an entry in FAULKNERS DUBLIN JOURNAL: 1768, 2nd July. Marriage. Mr.George Bainbridge, an eminent Watchmaker to Miss. Meares, an agreeable young lady, with a handsome fortune.  George Bainbridge was working at 54 Bolton Street, Quarter-brother from approximately 1766 until his death in 1800. Although a record of his will exists on the indexes, it was destroyed by the 1922 Four Courts fire.  Elizabeth registered her mark with the Dublin Assay office around 1802.  Example of Elizabeth Bainbridge's makers mark along with Dublin sterling hallmarks It appears also she kept running the business from the same location, with a listing from Wilso