What were mote spoons used for?

Mote spoons served an eighteenth-century tea table purpose, functioning both to skim loose leaves from the brew and to clear blocked spouts with their pointed tails. Their bowls display delicate pierced slots. Finding a mote spoon usually connects a collection directly to early Georgian tea-drinking traditions.

Are glass liners original to salt cellars?

Many salt cellars and mustard pots retain their original cobalt blue, cranberry, or green glass liners. These liners protected the silver from the corrosive nature of salt and mustard. Checking for a snug fit helps determine if the glass belongs to the original piece or represents a later replacement.

How do I date a silver spoon?

Dating relies heavily upon the assay office marks, maker's stamps, and date letters stamped directly onto the silver. Stylistic indicators such as Arts and Crafts hand-beating or Georgian bright-cut engraving also provide clues. Matching these hallmarks against established registry records yields the exact year of manufacture.