Engraved Georgian Silver Spoon
An engraved georgian silver spoon brings the weight of eighteenth and nineteenth century dining straight to the hand.
Engraved Georgian Silver Spoon
When you search for an engraved georgian silver spoon, you encounter items designed for specific tasks at the table, from large basting and soup ladles to delicate caddy spoons, egg spoons, and spice sifters.
The pieces span the Georgian era and adjacent periods, including the late seventeenth century up to the Victorian and Edwardian years, with many originating from regional assay offices such as Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, Exeter, and York alongside London.
Caddy spoons and berry spoons appear frequently alongside tablespoons and serving utensils, often decorated with hand-engraved family crests, initials, or floral patterns.
Quality and execution
Quality rests in the crispness of the hand engraving and the gauge of the silver, which dictates how the spoon balances in the hand.
Makers who cut deep, precise crests and maintained the structural integrity of thin forms like caddy spoons and straining spoons separate standard production from exceptional provincial or maker-marked work.
One tiny caddy spoon takes the exact miniature shape of a jockey cap.
John Pittar·John Walton·John Craig·William Ferguson·William Chawner II·James Tookey·Isaac Davenport·Bateman·Michael Smith·R Grey·George Smith III
The Engraved Georgian Silver Spoon Glossary
- Hallmark
- A series of official marks stamped on silver to show the standard of purity, the assay office, the date letter, and the maker's mark. These stamps allow collectors to trace the exact origin of a piece.
- Caddy Spoon
- A short-handled spoon specifically created for measuring loose tea from a caddy into a teapot. They often display whimsical or shell-shaped bowls.
- Berry Spoon
- A serving spoon, typically from the Georgian period, embossed and engraved with fruit and foliage motifs often added at a later date. They were popular for serving summer berries.
- Basting Spoon
- A large spoon used in the kitchen or at the table for pouring pan juices over meat. They measure considerably longer than standard tablespoons.
- Toddy Ladle
- A small ladle with a twist whalebone or silver handle used for serving warm alcoholic punches. The bowls are frequently double-lipped or round.
Engraved Georgian Silver Spoon: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a caddy spoon used for?
A caddy spoon measures dry tea leaves from a storage canister into the pot.
Their compact size and decorative engraved handles made them charming accessories for the tea table.
How do I date a silver spoon?
You read the date letter stamped within the hallmarked punch marks on the back of the stem.
Assay offices in London, Dublin, and provincial towns changed these letters annually, allowing precise dating.
What are berry spoons?
Berry spoons are large serving spoons decorated with fruit and leaf engravings pressed into the silver bowl.
While many date to the Georgian era, the ornate fruit chasing was frequently added to plain spoons during the Victorian period.
Are these spoons made of sterling silver?
The pieces consist primarily of sterling silver, marked with the lion passant or regional equivalents to guarantee the metal standard.
Some examples also feature a gilt or gold wash layer inside the bowl.