Set of Teaspoons
A set of teaspoons brings small-scale silver and varied coloured enamel to the table, spanning Georgian bright-cut work to mid-century modern design.
Set of Teaspoons
A set of teaspoons gathers small dining implements often housed in fitted cases lined with velvet, silk, satin, or leatherette. These groupings include coffee spoons, demi-tasse spoons, and teaspoons paired with sugar tongs.
The pieces emerge across multiple decades and centuries, ranging from George III examples made by provincial and London makers to twentieth-century iterations influenced by Art Deco, Arts and Crafts, and Mid-Century Modern aesthetics.
Materials and construction
Silversmiths formed these utensils primarily from sterling silver, occasionally applying a silver-gilt finish or setting bowls and handles with semi-precious stones, agate, or vitreous enamel.
Many twentieth-century sets integrate colourful enamel work on the handles or feature specialised terminals such as seal tops, card suits, or sailing club motifs.
Set of Teaspoons Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for set of teaspoons among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Listings span the Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian, Art Nouveau, Arts and Crafts, Art Deco, and Mid-Century Modern periods.
Evaluating craftsmanship
Distinction in these groupings rests upon the crispness of the original chasing, bright-cut engraving, and the preservation of any applied enamel or gilding without loss.
The presence of an intact, original fitted case lined in silk or velvet adds significantly to the integrity of the ensemble.
David Andersen·Georg Jensen·P A W Bateman·Walker and Hall·Liberty and Co·Robert Stebbings·Cooper Brothers and Sons
The Set of Teaspoons Glossary
- Bright-cut
- An engraving technique utilising faceted cuts to catch the light, common on Georgian silver.
- Demi-tasse
- A small spoon designed for use with small coffee cups.
- Silver-gilt
- Silver objects that have been coated with a thin layer of gold on the surface.
- Assay office
- An official body that tests the purity of precious metals and stamps them with hallmarks.
Set of Teaspoons: Frequently Asked Questions
What are coffee spoons used for?
Coffee spoons are smaller than standard teaspoons and designed specifically for stirring sugar or milk into after-dinner coffee cups.
They often appear in matched sets of six or twelve, sometimes accompanied by fitted presentation boxes.
How do I identify a Georgian teaspoon?
Georgian teaspoons typically display hand-engraved bright-cut decoration, distinct provincial or London hallmarks, and slender stems characteristic of the late eighteenth century.
They predate the heavy machine stamping seen in later Victorian production.
Why do some sets include sugar tongs?
Sugar tongs were manufactured alongside teaspoons to serve lump sugar from a communal bowl during afternoon tea.
Matching tongs share the maker's mark and stylistic motifs of the spoons they accompany.
How should I store cased silver spoons?
Keep cased sets in dry conditions away from direct sunlight to protect the interior velvet, silk, or satin linings.
Proper closure of the leatherette or wooden outer boxes helps minimise tarnishing from airborne pollutants.