The rare Hunt & Roskell silver roos pulled from a pouch - Antiques Trade Gazette

Covered on the front page of the ATG was the fabulous result for a pair of Victorian salts in form of kangaroos, which sold for almost double the top estimate for £18,000 (plus 18% buyer's premium).

A pair of Victorian novelty salts made by Bond Street silversmiths Hunt & Roskell.

A rare pair of Victorian silver salts, modelled as kangaroos, each stamped on the reverse Hunt & Roskell Late Storr & Mortimer 7879, the bases hallmarked London 1854 and 1856, the cast and chased seated kangaroos sitting on rocky bases, with shell form dishes with later silver gilt spoons, the shell salts stamped with initials for John Samuel Hunt, 21ozt (without spoons), height 12cm, width 13cm.

Catherine recalled seeing them for the first time at a valuation day before Christmas: "I was so excited when I was greeted with a pair of dark green drawstring felt pouches, I knew I was in for a good ride. Although these pouches often hold gold or silver, it was the pointed ears that were sticking out of the top of them that intrigued me. As I pulled at the cord and opened up one of them, the object just got better and better. The owners had no idea how long they had been in the family and had found them in a box in the loft." The salts were hallmarked for London 1854 and 1856 with the spoons probably associated.

For the full article featured in April 2015 issue, subscribe to Antiques Trade Gazette.