Featured Sterling Silver "Dognose" and "Rattail" Spoon. Ca. 1700.

Picked up at the flea-market for the grand-total of $30.00



The marks are, sadly, rubbed to the point of nonexistence (you can JUST see the ghosts of where they were, on the back of the handle).

The seller thought 1720, another dealer thought 1680. So I cut it in half and said 1700.

 

'Tis Beautifus, surely!

 

This may very well be an early English spoon. With the marks so worn I can only speculate but I think that one of the 2 remaining marks (the one farthest from the bowl) may be the leopard's head erased used on Britannia standard silver. This standard (958) was the legally mandated standard from 1697 to 1720.

 

I was told that the spoon was English, between 1680 - 1720. But as you say - the marks are gone with time, so we could only guess with the dates.

I estimated 1700, just because it's easy, which would mean that, yes, it's Britannia silver. Which is kind of cool. I've never owned a piece of real Britannia silver before.

 

Hey guys!!

Just posting an update for anybody who was curious.

I took the spoon for XRF-testing today.

Result: 95% Britannia silver.

So that means it was made between 1697 - 1720. Given the style and condition of the spoon, I'd say it's towards the older end of that scale.

I'm so excited! This is the oldest antique in my collection!

 

Great news! Thanks for sharing!

 

A friend asked if I was going to sell it.

Uh? No!? I'd never find another one!