Incongruous wear?

Post by **Granmaa** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 8:36 pm

Here is a beautiful 8.5" spoon (possibly for serving fruit) with a shell bowl and a feathered edge on one side.
No hallmarks are intact, and I date it at c.1775. What is confusing is that the hallmarks are so worn as to only leave the scrap you see in the photo, whereas the feathering is absolutely pristine.
Does anyone think the feathering could be a later alteration, or suggest a theory to clear it of this charge? Also, if anyone could put a name to the mark, I will be very impressed and grateful.

Miles

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Waylander · Post by **Waylander** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 6:46 pm

A nice piece Miles.

From the obvious wearing of the mark (as an example of the general use of the spoon) I cannot see how it would be possible that the feathering could have been present on the original - I'm suspecting a latter change (and one of good quality from the photo) but would also be grateful of anyone could explain this little conundrum.

Regards

Waylander
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nigel le sueur · Post by **nigel le sueur** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 3:52 pm

Good point Waylander, l have a very similar spoon of the same age (plain bowl) by Thomas Chawner and the date mark is rubbed but the engraving is quite sharp.poss c 1773

The decorative technique of bright cutting dates from about 1770 and resulted in the cutting edges of tools being improved by better quality steel, so it is fair to say that any silver with bright cutting of mid eighteenth date or earlier must of been re-engraved.

Regards

Nigel
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