Superb quality antique silver commemorative shovel with carved mahogany handle. Very interesting railway inscription. The decorative silver mounts have intricate engraved borders and deeply chased decoration with flowers and leaves. Length 88 cms. Width 19 cms. London 1884. Maker Sibray, Hall & Co. The handle with silver mount, part marked, probably Birmingham 1888. Maker Hall & Co
Literature: A presentation trowel was traditionally given to commemorate laying the foundation stone of a building. It should bear an inscription with the name of the dignitary laying the stone, the building and the date of commencement (or completion) of the project. Special examples can sometimes have an engraved representation of the building. On rare occasions a life size presentation shovel was given to commemorate "the turning of the first sod".
Signed/Inscribed: Inscription - Foreign Cattle Market - This spade was used by Thomas Briggs Esq - Chairman of the Cattle Markets Committee of the Corporation of London - in turning the first sod for the New Railway 13th December 1898 Sir John Wolfe Barry KCB FRS engineer J. Strachan contractor
Biography
Sibray, Hall & Co
Sibray Hall was founded in Sheffield by Frederick Sibray and Job Frank Hall, active as manufacturing silversmiths and electroplaters at Fitzwalter Works, 111 St Mary's Road and had London showrooms at 30 Ely Place, Holborn (c. 1890).
On Frederick Sibray’s death in 1891 Charles Clement Pilling entered into partnership with Job Frank Hall until (1896) becoming the limited liability company Sibray, Hall & Co Ltd. F.J. Hall retired (c. 1900) and ownership transferred to C.C. Pilling. The firm displayed its silverware (dessert services, trophies and shields, cups and bowls, tea and coffee services, etc.) at the Jewellers' Exhibition of 1912.
Condition
This unusual collectors piece is in good condition. The engraving and embossed decoration is crisp. The silver marks are clear, the silver mount on the handle is 4 years later than the shovel piece. The silver has a full ripples where the spade has been used. The mahogany wood is in good condition with no splits, just a few minor scuffs.
Please note that this item is not new and will show moderate signs of wear commensurate with age. Reflections in the photograph may detract from the true representation of this item
Superb quality antique silver commemorative shovel with carved mahogany handle. Very interesting railway inscription. The decorative silver mounts have intricate engraved borders and deeply chased decoration with flowers and leaves. Length 88 cms. Width 19 cms. London 1884. Maker Sibray, Hall & Co. The handle with silver mount, part marked, probably Birmingham 1888. Maker Hall & Co
Literature: A presentation trowel was traditionally given to commemorate laying the foundation stone of a building. It should bear an inscription with the name of the dignitary laying the stone, the building and the date of commencement (or completion) of the project. Special examples can sometimes have an engraved representation of the building. On rare occasions a life size presentation shovel was given to commemorate "the turning of the first sod".
Signed/Inscribed: Inscription - Foreign Cattle Market - This spade was used by Thomas Briggs Esq - Chairman of the Cattle Markets Committee of the Corporation of London - in turning the first sod for the New Railway 13th December 1898 Sir John Wolfe Barry KCB FRS engineer J. Strachan contractor
This unusual collectors piece is in good condition. The engraving and embossed decoration is crisp. The silver marks are clear, the silver mount on the handle is 4 years later than the shovel piece. The silver has a full ripples where the spade has been used. The mahogany wood is in good condition with no splits, just a few minor scuffs.
Please note that this item is not new and will show moderate signs of wear commensurate with age. Reflections in the photograph may detract from the true representation of this item
Sibray Hall was founded in Sheffield by Frederick Sibray and Job Frank Hall, active as manufacturing silversmiths and electroplaters at Fitzwalter Works, 111 St Mary's Road and had London showrooms at 30 Ely Place, Holborn (c. 1890).
On Frederick Sibray’s death in 1891 Charles Clement Pilling entered into partnership with Job Frank Hall until (1896) becoming the limited liability company Sibray, Hall & Co Ltd. F.J. Hall retired (c. 1900) and ownership transferred to C.C. Pilling. The firm displayed its silverware (dessert services, trophies and shields, cups and bowls, tea and coffee services, etc.) at the Jewellers' Exhibition of 1912.
Express courier service. Delivered to the address provided at the time of purchase. No P.O addresses.
Signature required on delivery.
Please note that certain countries levy import duties and local taxes. Payment of these is the purchaser’s responsibility once the package has reached the destination country and a customs representative will contact you for payment prior to delivery.
Import restrictions. Certain destinations, including the US, ban the import of products containing materials such as ivory and tortoiseshell. We cannot accept orders requiring shipment of such items to those destinations.
We dispatch 1-3 days after receiving cleared payment. Please notify us immediately if you require a special arrangement.
“waxantiques” is a family business run by husband and wife team Lou and Ann Wax.
Our shared interest in antiques led us to change career and start dealing in general antiques shortly after we married. We spent many happy years selling at the world famous Bermondsey antiques market and at the larger UK fairs. As the years progressed our interest became more focused on antique silverware and its domestic history and twenty five years ago we moved on to Camden Passage to open our specialist silver store “waxantiques”.
In 2018 we finally made our move to the London Silver Vaults.
Our website www.waxantiques.com launched in 2011 now accounts for a substantial and growing proportion of the business to the extent where Ann needs to concentrate on maintaining our online presence, while Lou is responsible for the day to day running of the shop and customer liaison.
We are fortunate indeed to have a career which allows us to handle such lovely items, many of which would not be out of place in a museum environment. Perhaps best of all is that it keeps us in contact with customers from all over the world, many of whom we count as good friends as well as colleagues.