What is a caddy spoon used for?

A caddy spoon measured loose tea leaves from a caddy into the teapot during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Their short handles allowed them to sit neatly inside or beside the tea storage vessel. Because they were meant for handling dry leaves rather than stirring liquid, makers designed them with wide, shallow bowls and highly ornamental forms like shells and leaves.

How do you identify a mote spoon?

Mote spoons feature a perforated bowl used to strain loose leaves from the cup and a pointed terminal used as a pick. They belong to the earlier part of the Georgian era. The presence of piercing on the bowl distinguishes them immediately from standard teaspoons of the same period.

Were these spoons made in sets?

Teaspoons were routinely produced in matched sets of six or twelve for household tea service. Caddy spoons and mote spoons were individual pieces made to serve a single function. Finding a complete set of provincial teaspoons remains less common than encountering single caddy spoons.

What does bright-cut engraving look like?

Bright-cut engraving utilises faceted cuts made with a sharp graving tool to create geometric and floral patterns that catch the light. It was widely adopted during the late eighteenth century. This technique gives a glittering appearance to the handle surfaces without removing excessive metal from the silver.