| DESCRIPTION |
Georgian silver Old English pattern straining spoon with no engraving or erasure. These spoons simplified the task of removing spent items of flavouring from stocks and gravies. Usually Irish but this is a rarer English example.
As basically a standard basting/gravy spoon with a straining plate attached these items are easily faked and I am suspicious of many that I see. The points that I look for are; the straining plate, does it look well made and carefully soldered in
place, the metal thick enough for purpose and the piercings cut with artistry and skill, not just crude hole piercings; the bowl of a basting spoon will usually wear as a table spoon does, mostly around the tip but the sideways movement of a straining
spoon does not produce tip wear with any wear being to the bowl side rims. The bowl sides of a purpose made straining spoon may also be straighter, more parallel than a standard basting spoon. This spoon passes all of my tests and I am certain that it
is a genuine example. |
