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Caddy Spoon

1813-1814 (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 English examples were developed in the mid 18th century when the Chinese tea bottle was superseded by the tea caddy, having an opening large enough to accommodate a small spoon to dispense and measure the tea and when the cover (the thimble top) was no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, stampled from single sheet, bright cut engraving on handle, engraved bowl, pierced border
Brief description
Silver, Birmingham hallmarks for 1814-15, mark of Cocks and Betteridge
Physical description
Silver, rounded bowl, edged with a pierced and scalloped frill and engraved with guilloche and wavy borders; the curved handle is engraved with foliage and a compartment for initials.
Dimensions
  • Height: 1.90cm
  • Length: 7.50cm
  • Width: 3.60cm
Marks and inscriptions
Marks on underside of handle: Maker C&B for Cocks and Bettridge, duty, sterling, date letter p for 1813-14 anchor town mark for Birmingham.
Credit line
Given by J. H. Fitzhenry
Object history
Acquisition RF: Fitzhenry
Gift - Fitzhenry Collection
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 English examples were developed in the mid 18th century when the Chinese tea bottle was superseded by the tea caddy, having an opening large enough to accommodate a small spoon to dispense and measure the tea and when the cover (the thimble top) was no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
1230-1902

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Record createdMarch 3, 2004
Record URL
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