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Caddy Spoon

1818-1819 (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 English examples were developed in the mid 18th century when the Chinese tea bottle was superseded by the tea caddy, having an opening large enough to accommodate a small spoon to dispense and measure the tea and when the cover (the thimble top) was no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, round bowl stamped from a single sheet, bright cut engraving on handle, engraved branch decoration on bowl
Brief description
Silver, Birmingham hallmarks for 1818-19, mark of Lawrence and Co.
Physical description
Silver, circular bowl engraved with a band of foliage and embossed with shell ornament; the handle is engraved with leaf decoration.
Dimensions
  • Height: 1.9cm
  • Length: 5.8cm
  • Width: 3.2cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • Birmingham hallmarks for 1818-19
  • Mark of Lawrence & Co.
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 English examples were developed in the mid 18th century when the Chinese tea bottle was superseded by the tea caddy, having an opening large enough to accommodate a small spoon to dispense and measure the tea and when the cover (the thimble top) was no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
1320-1902

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Record createdMarch 3, 2004
Record URL
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