Caddy Spoon thumbnail 1
Caddy Spoon thumbnail 2
Not on display

Caddy Spoon

ca. 1820 (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 English examples were developed in the mid 18th century when the Chinese tea bottle was superseded by the tea caddy, having an opening large enough to accommodate a small spoon to dispense and measure the tea and when the cover (the thimble top) was no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, engraved
Brief description
Silver, Birmingham (no hallmarks), ca.1820,mark of Simpson & Son.
Physical description
Silver, saddle shaped with four sided bowl engraved with two rosettes and a wavy border; the handle is engraved with floral decoration and ends in a circular plate bearing engraved initials.
Dimensions
  • Length: 2.5in
  • Width: 1.5625in
Marks and inscriptions
  • No hallmarks
  • Mark of Simpson & Son
  • Engraved with the initials W.C.W (On the handle)
Credit line
Gift of J. H. Fitzhenry
Subjects 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 English examples were developed in the mid 18th century when the Chinese tea bottle was superseded by the tea caddy, having an opening large enough to accommodate a small spoon to dispense and measure the tea and when the cover (the thimble top) was no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
1269-1902

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Record createdFebruary 3, 2009
Record URL
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