Spoon
1699-1700 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This is an example of a type of spoon described as a 'trefid' pattern, so-called after the way the end of the stem is split into three sections. The design is completely different to that of earlier spoons made in England, and is almost certainly inspired by contemporary examples from the Continent, particularly France. Goldsmiths' Company court minutes from the 1660s refer to 'French fashion spoons', which probably looked similar to this one. This new fashion meant the finial of the spoon was designed so that the spoon could be placed on the table with its open bowl down (the opposite of how it would be placed on the table today). The stamped decoration on the finial and bowl is achieved by hammering the spoon into a die in which the decoration has been cut. Spoons of this form decorated in this way are known as 'lace back' trefids, and they are perhaps the commonest and best-known type of decorated trefid. This is also an example of plate made to the higher standard of silver that became compulsory for the trade between 1696 and 1720. In 1696 an act of Parliament raised the standard of wrought plate from 925 parts of pure silver (known as ‘sterling standard’) to 958 parts of pure silver per thousand. This was an attempt to stop people removing silver coins of sterling standard from circulation and converting them into cups, dishes and other items of plate. The higher standard for plate was reflected in new marks: the mark of the lion passant (the sterling standard mark) was replaced by the figure of Britannia, and in London the mark of the London assay office (a leopard’s head crowned) was replaced by a lion’s head erased. After 1720, goldsmiths and their patrons could choose either sterling or Britannia standards for their wares.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Silver, stamped |
Brief description | Spoon, Britannia standard silver, English (London), 1699-1700, mark of Thomas Allen |
Physical description | Spoon, Britannia standard silver, trefid end, with a rat tail and drop; the spoon back and finial decorated with stamped scrolls (known as a 'lace back' trefid). |
Dimensions |
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Marks and inscriptions | On the back of the stem, marks L to R:
Maker's mark of Thomas Allen (Grimwade, no. 50); figure of Britannia for Britannia standard; lion's head erased, mark of London assay office for Britannia standard; date letter for assay year 1699-1700 |
Gallery label | Trifid end
London Hallmark 1699-1700
Mark of Thos. Allen
A. Hurst Bequest |
Credit line | Bequeathed by Arthur Hurst |
Subject depicted | |
Summary | This is an example of a type of spoon described as a 'trefid' pattern, so-called after the way the end of the stem is split into three sections. The design is completely different to that of earlier spoons made in England, and is almost certainly inspired by contemporary examples from the Continent, particularly France. Goldsmiths' Company court minutes from the 1660s refer to 'French fashion spoons', which probably looked similar to this one. This new fashion meant the finial of the spoon was designed so that the spoon could be placed on the table with its open bowl down (the opposite of how it would be placed on the table today). The stamped decoration on the finial and bowl is achieved by hammering the spoon into a die in which the decoration has been cut. Spoons of this form decorated in this way are known as 'lace back' trefids, and they are perhaps the commonest and best-known type of decorated trefid. This is also an example of plate made to the higher standard of silver that became compulsory for the trade between 1696 and 1720. In 1696 an act of Parliament raised the standard of wrought plate from 925 parts of pure silver (known as ‘sterling standard’) to 958 parts of pure silver per thousand. This was an attempt to stop people removing silver coins of sterling standard from circulation and converting them into cups, dishes and other items of plate. The higher standard for plate was reflected in new marks: the mark of the lion passant (the sterling standard mark) was replaced by the figure of Britannia, and in London the mark of the London assay office (a leopard’s head crowned) was replaced by a lion’s head erased. After 1720, goldsmiths and their patrons could choose either sterling or Britannia standards for their wares. |
Bibliographic references |
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Collection | |
Accession number | M.58-1940 |
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Record created | September 10, 2004 |
Record URL |
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