Georgian Sterling Silver Strainer
A georgian sterling silver strainer is a practical piece of historic barware or teaware designed to separate leaves, pips, or sediment from poured liquids.
Georgian Sterling Silver Strainer
A georgian sterling silver strainer encompasses various forms including wine funnels, mote spoons, tea strainers, and basting spoons. These items serve specific functions across dining, tea service, and wine decanting.
Wine funnels appear frequently, often constructed in multiple parts with a removable pierced bowl insert. Mote spoons provide another common form, combining a pierced bowl with a pointed stem for tea leaves.
Serving and gravy straining spoons also emerge among the selections, alongside distinct regional examples originating from Ireland, Scotland, and York.
Assessing quality in silver strainers
Quality rests on the thickness of the metal gauge, the crispness of the pierced work in the bowl, and the legibility of the maker marks and hallmarks. Thicker silver gauges provide better durability and weight in the hand.
The precision of the piercing pattern on the strainer bowl distinguishes standard utilitarian items from finer examples produced by prominent silversmiths.
Wallis·David Hennell·Solomon Hougham·Jeremiah Lee·Bateman
The Georgian Sterling Silver Strainer Glossary
- Sterling silver
- An alloy containing ninety-two point five percent silver and seven point five percent other metals, typically copper. This standard composition ensured durability for functional tableware.
- Mote spoon
- A small eighteenth-century spoon featuring a pierced bowl and a pointed terminal. The bowl strained tea leaves while the point cleared the teapot spout.
- Wine funnel
- A conical utensil used to decant wine into a decanter while trapping sediment. Many period examples include a detachable pierced strainer section.
- Gauge
- The thickness of the silver sheet used to form the object. A good gauge indicates a heavier, more substantial piece of silver.
Georgian Sterling Silver Strainer: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a mote spoon used for?
A mote spoon served multiple purposes during eighteenth-century tea preparation. The pierced bowl skimmed stray tea leaves from the surface of the brew.
The tapered tail point unblocked clogged teapot spouts, making it an essential tea table accessory.
How do wine funnels work?
Wine funnels guided liquid into decanters while a removable pierced insert caught tartaric crystals and sediment. This ensured clear wine was poured into the vessel.
Many period versions separated into multiple interlocking parts for ease of cleaning and use.
How do I clean silver strainers?
Wash silver strainers gently in warm water using a mild washing-up liquid and a soft cloth. Dry them thoroughly immediately afterwards to prevent water spotting.
Avoid abrasive dips or harsh scrubbing brushes that might damage delicate pierced work or wear down historic hallmarks.
Can I use these for tea?
Historic tea strainers and mote spoons remain entirely functional for loose-leaf tea preparation today. Solid silver does not impart flavours into the brew.
Take care when handling fragile pierced bowls during washing to preserve their antique structure.