William Comyns Silver Maker Marks and Information. William Comyns, silversmith, was apprenticed from 1849 to 1856 with George J. Richards of Clerkenwell. He registered his mark on 26 January 1859 and is recorded as a plateworker, of 2 Carlyle Street, Soho Square. From 1869, he was at 1 Percy Mews, Rathbone Place; from 1878 at 16 Silver Street, Gonden Square, and from 1888 at 41 Beak Street. Three sons are recorded and they succeeded to the business at the time of his death. A new mark was registered in 1912 and the business remained in the family until 1953. (Charlotte Gere).
William Comyns produced many different silver items including boxes, frames, mirrors, decanters and novelty items such as the wheelbarrow below. One of the most renown design features of William Comyns are the flourishes, cherubs or putti, nymphs and natural foliage.
A Victorian silver cigarette box
by William Comyns, London 1894
Rectangular, profusely decorated with flowers, scrolls and masks, wood lined, length 25cm.
Sold for £675 inc. premium at Bonhams in 2015
A ROYAL GIFT:- A LATE VICTORIAN SILVER CIGARETTE BOX
MARK OF WILLIAM COMYNS, LONDON, 1898
Rectangular with gadroon borders, cover applied with four oval gold bosses around a central enamelled Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, the four medallions respectively with Royal arms and Commonwealth Celebrations, May, 1901, Victoria, another similar inscribed around the Royal arms Commodore Alfred L. Winsloe R.N. and marked “15C”, the third T.R.H. Duke & Duchess of Cornwall & York British Colonies 1901 H.M. S. Ophir, the last with crowned anchor superimposed with Garter strap centred by a rose
5 in. long (12.6 cm.)
12.25 oz. (380 gm.).
Sold for GBP1,250 at Christie’s in 2014
Victorian Silver Mounted Goliath Clock
William Comyns & Sons, London, circa 1899
Of rectangular form, the hinged cover pierced with latticework and scrolls with putti in each corner, opening to a removable oversized pocket watch. Height overall 7 inches.
Sold for $437 (includes buyer’s premium) at Doyle New York in 2015
A GOOD LATE 19TH CENTURY SILVER AND ENAMEL CASKET by William Comyns. London 1899. 41.1 oz. inc wood liner. 23 cm x 15 cm.
Sold For: £1,100 at Hannam’s Auctioneers Ltd in 2018
An Edwardian silver-mounted cut-glass wheelbarrow centerpiece, William Comyns & Sons Ltd., London, 1907
the glass panels decorated with flowers and foliage, the central panel with trellis and stars, the silver mounts with openwork cast flowers and scrolls, matching wheel rolls
marked underneath frame
length 16 3/4 in.
42.5 cm.
Sold for 7,500 USD at Sothebys in 2016
An Edwardian silver box by William Comyns & Sons, London 1904, the arched hinged cover and front panel embossed with angels within foliate scroll panels, 15cm (6in) wide, loaded, and three associated glass scent bottles and stoppers with gilt decoration.
Sold For: £280 at Dreweatts Donnington Priory in 2017
Silver Makers Mark for William Comyns and Sons c1927. This mark is for Richard Comyns
Silver maker mark for William Comyns found on an item with the London assay mark and date letter for 1902
