Silver Demitasse Spoons
Silver demitasse spoons are small, elegant items designed for after-dinner coffee, offering a touch of refinement to the table.
What silver demitasse spoons are
When you search for silver demitasse spoons, you find miniature implements designed specifically for small cups of strong coffee. These pieces appear in sets, often housed in fitted cases lined with velvet, satin, or leatherette.
The selections available here span several decades, including the Edwardian, Victorian, Art Deco, and Mid-Century Modern styles. Origins vary from English workshops to Dutch and Danish makers.
Forms range from simple bowls and stems to elaborate pieces finished with brightly coloured enamel work. Coffee spoons and teaspoons also appear within these listings alongside the smaller demitasse format.
How they were made
Cased sets often include interior linings of velvet, satin, or leatherette to protect the metalwork during storage. Individual spoons show traditional smithing and finishing techniques appropriate to their respective decades.
Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical UK retail prices for silver demitasse spoons, 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 for silver demitasse spoons span the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, and 1960s, featuring Art Deco and Mid-Century Modern styles.
What varies in quality
Quality rests in the crispness of the metalwork and the precision of any applied enamel. Simpler pieces rely entirely on the weight and polish of the solid silver.
Complete cased sets with intact velvet or satin linings generally demonstrate higher preservation than loose items. The presence of foreign hallmarks and distinct regional styles also influences the character of each set.
The Silver Demitasse Spoons Glossary
- Demitasse
- A small cup used for serving after-dinner coffee, which requires a spoon scaled down from standard teaspoon size. These implements measure considerably shorter than ordinary cutlery.
- Silver Gilt
- Silver that has been coated with a thin layer of gold on its surface. This technique provides a rich two-tone appearance.
- Hallmark
- An official stamp applied to precious metals to indicate the standard of purity and the place of testing. English pieces typically bear a series of small stamped symbols.
- Enamel
- A glassy substance fused to the surface of metal through firing for decorative colour. This finish appears frequently on mid-century and earlier twentieth-century coffee spoons.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are silver demitasse spoons used for?
These miniature items are intended for stirring sugar or milk into small cups of espresso or after-dinner coffee. Their reduced scale prevents them from overwhelming tiny cups.
Beyond practical use, many sets were purchased as presentation pieces for weddings or christenings and spent decades safely stored in fitted boxes.
How do I care for silver spoons?
Regular, gentle cleaning with a specialist cloth maintains the shine of sterling silver and solid silver surfaces. Avoid harsh abrasives that remove fine detail or damage enamel work.
Store cased sets away from direct sunlight and damp environments to protect the velvet, satin, or leatherette linings from degrading over time.
Are these spoons made of solid silver?
The pieces recorded here utilise solid silver, silver gilt, and sterling silver. Hallmarks on the metal help confirm the exact standard used by the maker.
Enamelled and gilded examples combine precious metal bases with decorative surface treatments applied during manufacture.
Why do some sets come in boxes?
Many twentieth-century flatware sets were retailed in fitted presentation boxes lined with protective materials like velvet, satin, or leatherette. These cases kept the spoons organised and prevented tarnishing.
Finding a complete set with its original box indicates careful preservation by previous owners.