George II Silver Spoon
A george ii silver spoon brings the solid weight of eighteenth-century tableware directly to your hand.
Identifying a george ii silver spoon
The pieces on this page span the eighteenth century, including specific dates like seventeen-fifty and seventeen-thirty. Surviving examples demonstrate the domestic habits of the period, from large hash spoons to delicate mote spoons used for straining tea.
Materials and construction
Each george ii silver spoon is fashioned from sterling silver, yielding a substantial and durable structure designed for daily use at the dining table. Smiths utilised traditional hammering and shaping techniques to form the bowl and handle.
Makers applied punch marks to record hallmarks, indicating standard silver purity and the city of origin such as London. The resulting pieces reflect the metallurgical practices of eighteenth-century silversmithing workshops.
Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical UK retail prices for george ii silver spoon, calculated from the Sellingantiques database of over a million retail prices indexed since 2003. This retail price guide relies exclusively on Sellingantiques data; no external sources or auction records are used, so the figures do not describe the wider market.
Listings record sterling silver across eighteenth-century periods including seventeen-thirty and seventeen-fifty.
Evaluating craftsmanship
Quality in a george ii silver spoon rests upon the clarity of the hallmarks and the preservation of the original bowl shape through centuries of use. Substantial metal weight and crisp definition on functional forms distinguish superior examples from heavily worn pieces.
The execution of specialised forms, such as pierced mote spoons or deep marrow scoops, demonstrates the maker's skill. Pieces retaining strong structural integrity and legible maker marks represent the upper tier of surviving silver.
Jeremiah Lee·John Wilks·Jabez Daniell
The George II Silver Spoon Glossary
- Hallmark
- Official stamps struck into precious metals to guarantee silver standard and origin. These marks provide vital evidence for dating and attributing eighteenth-century silver.
- Mote spoon
- A narrow nineteenth-century or earlier tea spoon featuring a pierced bowl and a pointed stem. The bowl strained tea leaves while the point cleared the teapot spout.
- Sterling silver
- An alloy of silver containing ninety-two point five percent pure silver and seven point five percent other metals. This composition provided the necessary durability for functional spoons.
- Georgian
- Pertaining to the period of the British reigns of the first four Georges spanning the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. This era produced distinctive styles in domestic silver.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a mote spoon?
A mote spoon is a specialised tea implement featuring a pierced bowl used to strain loose leaves from the cup. The tapered terminal often clears a blocked teapot spout.
These pieces reflect the social rituals of tea drinking during the Georgian period. They combine utility with delicate craftsmanship.
How are these spoons dated?
Silversmiths applied punch marks and town marks to indicate the year of manufacture and testing. Analysts read these official stamps to determine the exact period of origin.
Matching stamps against historical records reveals the workshop and city associated with each object. This system offers reliable chronological evidence.
What is a marrow scoop?
A marrow scoop is a narrow utensil with troughs at both ends designed for extracting marrow from animal bones. Dining practices of the period elevated this specific food preparation tool into silver form.
These items display elongated profiles distinct from standard table spoons. They demonstrate the specialised nature of eighteenth-century cutlery.
How do I care for silver?
Maintaining sterling silver involves gentle washing with warm water and mild soap when necessary. Proper storage prevents unnecessary scratching and tarnish accumulation.
Avoid abrasive cleaners that wear down the historical surface. Careful handling preserves the original hallmarks and metal weight.