Awesome English sterling at estate/moving sale!

captain flintlock · Aug 19, 2017

So my wife and I had plans to go to an event today that pretty much only allowed time for one sale that just happened to be on the way to the highway. It was an estate/moving sale run by the owner that I had seen advertised on our local Craigslist. It was for both Friday and today so I knew that many of the local dealers would have beaten us to it before this morning. Upon our arrival, we pass a friend of ours who is a dealer and said that there was still a lot of stuff left but a ton had been sold the day before. The house is a ginormous place circa 1819 and had some really nice antiques and such. But the place reeked of cat pee!🤢 I spot a box lot of mixed silver plated stuff and see a price of $50 for all. The seller says to me " $50 for all or $2.00 each." I knew I didn't want the whole box but proceeded to pick through it as I would anyway. To my surprise, I spot a very large serving spoon. I quickly turn it over and see all of the English sterling marks! I spot another spoon just a bit smaller and same thing. English sterling! I immediately notice on both that they were early but didn't take the time to research the date letters. I also grabbed a few plated items of interest and paid the seller $12.00 for six items. I know that the seller works at a local vintage jewelry shop and she sells similar items and sterling as well. I'm thinking that she just didn't know the English hallmark system. The two bowls are plated but thought they were cool. The large serving spoon is 3.89ozt and is circa 1808. Made by Solomon Hougham. The smaller berry spoon is 2.00ozt and circa 1802. It's made by Peter, Ann, and William Bateman. I have a few of their pieces already and will add these to my collection. Not a bad day for the one and only sale! Sorry for the long story!