DESCRIPTION |
An exceptionally scarce pair of the very earliest Old English pattern basting/stuffing/gravy spoons. These spoons were made during the transition of style from Hanoverian to Old English and have the shoulders of the Fiddle style that was popular in France at the time. For added interest, each is only marked with the maker's punch struck four times on each spoon. This practice avoided the assay fees but was probably not done to deceive as at the time few people, if any, apart from the officials of the Goldsmiths' Company and its members, would have understood or recognised authentic markings. More likely the silversmith wanted to control the bottom markings to reduce the reworking necessary after an official assay was struck. | ||
| SILVERSMITH |
Paul Callard | ||
| DATE or HALLMARK |
circa 1750 | ||
| ASSAY OFFICE or COUNTRY |
London | ||
WEIGHT in GRAMS |
245 | ||
| SIZE in INCHES |
length: 11 1/2 |
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| SILVER STANDARD if applicable |
.925 sterling silver | ||
| OVERALL CONDITION |
When I found these spoons they were in contrasting condition. One had clearly been well used with the expected bowl bumps and evidence of wear to the left of the bowl tip. The other was perfect, as if it has spent the last two hundred and fifty years in a drawer. Our silversmith has removed the bumps from the bowl of the used spoon. Neither spoon has ever been engraved or erased. Although an exceptionally early date for Old English pattern I guarantee that these are not Hanoverian conversions. | ||
| MAJOR FAULTS |
none | ||
MINOR FAULTS |
The used spoon has some softening to the shoulders and a few tiny scratches across the left shoulder (see below). | ||
|
Price £425 |
SOLD |
BACK | Item Number: M1666 |
