Description

Presented is an excellent set of 4 early 18th century English sterling silver spoons. The spoons are made in a classical Hanoverian pattern, with a pronounced rattail design to the back of the bowl and rounded, upward-turned terminals to the handles with a rib down the center. The spoons are a generous large size, suitable as serving spoons or very large oval soup spoons, more or less a tablespoon by today's standards. Each spoon has a finely engraved crest of a demi unicorn emerging from a mural crown, associated with the Wilkinson name (specifically, granted to Lawrence Wilkinson, Esq., county Durham, England, 1615.) These spoons are all hallmarked, but the hallmarks are mostly obscured/worn. One spoon has a date letter in the older English lettering system as used in the 1697-1715 date run, looking most similar to 1711 or 1713 based on what is visible, with a poorly struck maker's mark that looks like FB. Another spoon has a faint FB and another partial old letter system mark. One spoon has only an illegible partial mark. The last spoon has a legible lion passant and leopard's head crowned, in the escutcheon shape dating it to around 1728-1739, as well as two additional partial marks. This set is in great overall condition, particularly considering the age. There is surface wear commensurate with age and use, and the crests in particular are slightly worn, but still visible on all four spoons. Some wear to the tips of the bowls. No splits, no monogram removals, and no repairs. Each spoon is about 8 inches long. The total weight for the set is 216 grams or 7.6 ounces. -jm Powered by SixBit's eCommerce Solution