Antiques silver specialist, researcher and dealer of many decades, waffling on about old stuff. BBC Antiques Specialist for the past 20 years (Flog It, Antiques Roadshow and Going for a Song), former Head of Silver at Sotheby’s Billingshurst.
Several articles published in “The Finial” the journal of the silver spoon collectors club of Great Britain. Also the Author of “An illustrated guide to York Hallmarks 1776-1858”
Contact email is: Baggottsilver@aol.com OR baggottsilver@btinternet.com if you have any enquiries.
I'm enjoying your video, but I'm afraid you're incorrect about the location of the Gilbert family silver mine. It's not in Cornwall, it's in Devon not far from the north east boundary with Somerset. I did a quick search in BBC's History of the World website, which brought up the Gilbert spoon and its history. (Edit for spelling)
Fascinating piece/blob of silver, but how do you know. I drank too much brandy last night Michael and watched Sharpe. Thoughts of Spanish plunder, do you have any?
Thanks Carrie, i did think a lot of people might think “oh just a lump of old metal” but i doubt i’ll find anything as rare or interesting for a very long time. (Lucky!)
Yes I agree very informative video. I am afraid television antiques programs value fake enthusiasm over great knowledge. That is why I am so happy to have found Michael's channel. Many Thanks.
After watching your video I immediately turned to John Luddington's book pages 147 to 149 where he mentions and illustrates an example of a a silver vinaigrette from Hudgill Burn lead mine.
The discovery of Petosi caused massive inflation (increase in money supply) in Spain and Portugal. The extraction method used was the patio method using mercury, and it killed thousands of natives and donkeys who trampled it under foot.
Now I feel terribly chastened. After years of telling people I never scrap silver, I found myself in Hatton Garden yesterday doing just that. All unmarked, untested bits and bobs picked up over the years. Nothing antique or complete, but it still hurt to hear it clatter into the box behind the counter...and then you do this. A dark room, a bottle of scotch and a revolver for me it is then.
Fascinating talk Michael, someone tried to mine lead and silver not far from us just north of Bristol in the 1800’s, not much success it’s all limestone here. They might find more silver in Cornwall yet, with the tin mines they’re re-opening, interesting to see if they do. Keep up the good work 👍🏻
I stalk the corridors of eBay for glass, and can confirm what you said is true, a couple weeks ago I bought 6 decanters for £30 that included, one common Victorian one, two mid century Stuart Crystal decanters, one early 20th century John Walsh Walsh, and a pair of Georgian decanters with original stoppers circa.1770-85. My channel is on antique glass and you don’t need a camera crew to go out and about. On Saturday just gone I visited and got permission to film in Stourbridge Glass Museum, and I also filmed in the Glass Fair in Himley Hall, also 90% of the antique centres I ask if I can film in, let me. I’m just a long term glass collector, not a dealer, and no TV background, and only use free software for editing. I’m a bit further down the line, I’m 350 films into it, plus shorts. Happy to chat if you would like.
@@michaelbaggott-rk1lh very useful, I deal in coins mainly and have bought silver in the past. What will be very helpful to me is targeting quality items for my collection. Your description on choosing a Georgian spoon for example was very educational to me. By the way where are you selling? I personally have been on eBay for 24 years. Kind regards Roger..
I recently bought, thanks really to this video, 21 punch ladles from a much larger collection. I have yet to examine them closely. But, last week, I acquired another. At first glance it isn't particularly interesting, inset with a George II Shilling, with the date obscured. But around the rim of the bowl, you can still make out the edge lettering from a coin: DECUS ET TUTAMEN ANNO REGNI OCTAVO, which I have deduced means that the bowl was crafted from a George II Crown from 1735. I was going to sell it, but now will put it with the rest of the collection, which I must examine much closer.
This clarifies much if probably obvious. I always admired the glasses that watch repairers and those setting stones in jewellery in that they flipped down in front or as part of their regular glasses. Thank you once more.
That's a wonderful trefid spoon thanks for showing it to us. My first piece of 17thc silver was a rat tail London spoon which I still treasure forty years later.
More great tips on how to assess an item,how you deduced what you have makes perfect sense when you look at the spoon closely.Thank you for my Friday fix👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🙏
Hi Michael, I recently bought a 1722 London John millington ratail spoon although someone said it could be a double drop . It has a decent bowl and original initials engraved not rubbed and hallmark is crisp . Any idea on value it's 57 Grams I paid cheap for it at auction 😂
@@michaelbaggott-rk1lhthank you the hallmarks are crisp and clear so it gives me more confidence, I only bought it because I've been watching the channel started to keep a eye out when I'm at auction il always look in the silver cabinet after looking at the coins😊
Engraving is, as we all bemoan, a dead art. I further bemoan "collectors" who deface pieces by buffing out monograms whose crime appears to be the adding of provenance. Sigh.
Super piece Michael. Some gorgeous engraving. I particularly like the initials and the script form of the date. To me it really evokes the period. Best wishes.
Thank you Michael...It maybe all out there but there are so few with the knowledge to decode the clues, that is what you are bringing to us...Without your insite it is a provencial spoon, you have given it back its identity....
Enjoying your videos Michael, so much so I bought your book. The advice in the opening pages of the book to assume everything is wrong until it proves itself right ( I am sure you worded it better than that) is quite brilliant advice and worth the price of the book alone !!! I had my first antique stall at the age of 8 and got through Uni through trading. After 25 years of being in the music industry I am spending more of my time in the trade again and loving it ! The video on ivory was particularly informative as people just don't know this stuff.
