Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Silver, Room 65, The Whiteley Galleries

Strainer Spoon

1791-1792 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Between 1700 and 1800 a great variety of designs evolved for knives, forks and spoons. As dishes became more elaborate, specialised tools for different types of food were invented, and different sizes of cutlery were introduced for the main courses and the dessert. To the specialist the term "cutlery" refers to edged tools, such as knives and scissors made by cutlers and "flatware" to forks and spoons supplied by specialist silversmiths and often made by outworkers.

Richard Crossley was a goldsmith who ran a successful business in London for forty years from 1775, registering eleven marks. "Flatware" includes tools for serving and eating whereas "hollow ware" describes vessels and utensils. Above the line of marks is a tiny additional mark identifying the workman, probably an outworker who actually made the spoon from metal supplied by Crossley. The outworkers system for flatwaredates back at least to the 16th century, but identifying marks appaer only in the late 18th century.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Silver
Brief description
Silver, London, 1791-2, mark of Richard Crossley
Physical description
Bowl pierced with a pattern of saltaire crosses and foliations; the drop handle engraved with a lion statant quadrant on a cap of maintenance.
Dimensions
  • Length: 14.25in
  • Width: 2.5in
Marks and inscriptions
  • Mark of Richard Crossley
  • The drop handle engraved with a lion statant quadrant on a cap of maintenance.
  • London hallmarks for 1791-2
  • Above the line of marks is a tiny additional mark identifying the workman, probably an outworker who actually made the spoon from metal supplied by Crossley.
Gallery label
3. STRAINER SPOON London, 1791-2 Mark of Richard Crossley This goldsmith ran a successful business in London for forty years from 1775, registering eleven marks. "Flatware" includes tools for serving and eating whereas "hollow ware" describes vessels and utensils. Above the line of marks is a tiny additional mark identifying the workman, probably an outworker who actually made the spoon from metal supplied by Crossley. The outworkers system for flatwaredates back at least to the 16th century, but identifying marks appaer only in the late 18th century. Croft Lyons Bequest
Credit line
Lt. Col. G. B. Croft-Lyons Bequest
Object history
Bequest - Croft Lyons
Acquisition RF: Croft Lyons
Subject depicted
Summary
Between 1700 and 1800 a great variety of designs evolved for knives, forks and spoons. As dishes became more elaborate, specialised tools for different types of food were invented, and different sizes of cutlery were introduced for the main courses and the dessert. To the specialist the term "cutlery" refers to edged tools, such as knives and scissors made by cutlers and "flatware" to forks and spoons supplied by specialist silversmiths and often made by outworkers.

Richard Crossley was a goldsmith who ran a successful business in London for forty years from 1775, registering eleven marks. "Flatware" includes tools for serving and eating whereas "hollow ware" describes vessels and utensils. Above the line of marks is a tiny additional mark identifying the workman, probably an outworker who actually made the spoon from metal supplied by Crossley. The outworkers system for flatwaredates back at least to the 16th century, but identifying marks appaer only in the late 18th century.
Collection
Accession number
M.849-1926

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Record createdSeptember 10, 2004
Record URL
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