If you are a collector of small silver ‘novelties’, then no doubt you will be looking for items that are not only interesting and unusual, but items made by famous silversmiths, and the name at the top of most collectors’ lists will probably be Sampson Mordan (1790 – 1843).
Mordan was born in 1770 and began his career as an apprentice to the famous locksmith John Bramah, inventor of the 'unpickable' lock.
Lot 302, a novelty pea whistle, mark of Sampson Mordan & Company
Following his apprenticeship, he established his own business in 1815, and later joined forces with John Isaac Hawkins. Together they filed a patent for a metal pencil with an internal mechanism for propelling the graphite "lead" shaft forward during use – the so -called propelling pencil.
Mordan soon bought out Hawkins and registered his own silver mark in 1823. Shortly after he went into partnership with stationer Gabriel Riddle. Under the name of S. Mordan & Co, they manufactured and retailed many writing and stationery related goods, particularly their now famous silver and gold propelling pencils, which were often made in whimsical "figural" shapes that resembled animals, golf clubs, thermometers, and numerous other designs.
Lot 306, an early 20th century silver novelty menu holder, mark of Sampson Mordan & Company
The partnership between Mordan and Riddle dissolved at the end of 1836. However, Mordan continued the business under the same name. By this time the firm were producing a large repertoire of fancy, as well as functional, manufactured goods, most of them belonging to the type of "novelties" so popular at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. They were suppliers to many of the top London retailers, such Asprey, the Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Company and Garrard, and included such things and menu holders, letter openers, novelty whistles, pin cushions and perfume bottles.
The items were always of the finest quality and finish, and the attention to detail on each item was generally second to none.
Mordan died in 1843 and his sons took over the business, which continued to trade until 1941 when their factory was bombed during the Second World War.
His legacy lives on today in the wide variety of silver and gold objets that bear his name, which are now hugely popular amongst collectors. With prices tending to sit in the low hundreds, depending on the item and the condition, Sampson Mordan pieces can be a good place to start for silver collectors.
The upcoming Jewellery, Silver & Watches Sale on 17th August has a number of examples of his work, all of which include charming owl motifs. These include a perfume bottle, a series of different charming menu holders, an owl pea whistle and a page turner, with estimates ranging from £100 to £1,200.
To view the Sampson Mordan lots in the sale, please click here