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Caddy Spoon

1821-1822 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

A caddy spoon is a type of spoon for use in taking and measuring dry tea from a tea caddy, usually small enough to fit inside the caddy. English examples were developed in the mid 18th century when the Chinese tea bottle was superseded by the tea caddy, having an opening large enough to accommodate a small spoon to dispense and measure the tea and when the cover (the thimble top) was no longer used as a measure. Caddy spoons were always required to be hallmarked, being excluded from the exemption of the English act of 1790 relating to small articles.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Silver, two parts, stamped, bright cut engraving
Brief description
Silver, London hallmarks for 1821-22, mark of Joseph Taylor
Physical description
Silver, the bowl engraved with bands of guilloche and leaf patterns and pointed handle transversely ribbed
Dimensions
  • Height: 2.8cm
  • Length: 8.8cm
  • Width: 3.1cm
Marks and inscriptions
Underside of rim: maker IT for Joseph Taylor, duty, sterling, date letter X for 1821-2, anchor for Birmingham
Credit line
Given by J. H. Fitzhenry
Object history
Acquisition RF: Fitzhenry
Gift - Fitzhenry Collection
Subject depicted
Summary
A caddy spoon is a type of spoon for use in taking and measuring dry tea from a tea caddy, usually small enough to fit inside the caddy. English examples were developed in the mid 18th century when the Chinese tea bottle was superseded by the tea caddy, having an opening large enough to accommodate a small spoon to dispense and measure the tea and when the cover (the thimble top) was no longer used as a measure. Caddy spoons were always required to be hallmarked, being excluded from the exemption of the English act of 1790 relating to small articles.
Collection
Accession number
1327-1902

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Record createdMarch 3, 2004
Record URL
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