Caddy Spoon
1797-1798 (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 English examples were developed in the mid 18th century when the Chinese tea bottle was superseded by the tea caddy, having an opening large enough to accommodate a small spoon to dispense and measure the tea and when the cover (the thimble top) was no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, stamped, bright cut engraving, two parts soldered, pierced edge |
Brief description | Silver, Birmingham hallmarks for 1824-5, mark of John Bettridge? |
Physical description | Silver, stamped, rounded bowl edged with a pierced and scalloped frill and engraved with foliage and wavy lines; the fiddle pattern handle is engraved with foliage and a compartment for initials. |
Dimensions |
|
Marks and inscriptions | Inside bowl: maker IB for John Bettridge?, duty, sterling, date letter ‘Z’ for 1797-8, 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 English examples were developed in the mid 18th century when the Chinese tea bottle was superseded by the tea caddy, having an opening large enough to accommodate a small spoon to dispense and measure the tea and when the cover (the thimble top) was no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 | 1271-1902 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
Record created | March 3, 2004 |
Record URL |
Download as: JSON