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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 English examples were developed in the mid 18th century when the Chinese tea bottle was superseded by the tea caddy, having an opening large enough to accommodate a small spoon to dispense and measure the tea and when the cover (the thimble top) was no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, stamped, embossed and engraved
Brief description
Silver, Birmingham hallmarks for 1821-2, mark of Lawrence and Co. or Ledsam, Vale and Wheeler.
Physical description
Silver, circular bowl engraved with a flower and leaves and embossed with a foliated ornament; the handle with oblong end, stamped in relief with flowers and leaves; oval plate for initials.
Dimensions
  • Height: 1.3cm
  • Length: 8.6cm
  • Width: 4cm
Marks and inscriptions
Underside of bowl: maker, L&Co for Lawrence and Co or Ledsam, Vale and Wheeler, duty, sterling, date letter for ‘X’, anchor for Birmingham
Credit line
Given by J. H. Fitzhenry
Object history
Acquisition RF: Fitzhenry
Gift - Fitzhenry Collection
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 English examples were developed in the mid 18th century when the Chinese tea bottle was superseded by the tea caddy, having an opening large enough to accommodate a small spoon to dispense and measure the tea and when the cover (the thimble top) was no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
1334-1902

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Record createdMarch 3, 2004
Record URL
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