Silver Spoon - pre-1800's with unusual hallmark

[awatkins]

This is an old silver baptismal spoon which has been in the family since pre-1800's. We suspect it is of British origin but cannot confirm.

Anyone who can help trace the origins of this spoon or unusual hallmark please help!!

[salmoned]

No idea, but love the 'scary mask face' mark.

[dognose]

Hi,

Welcome to the Forum.

You have what appears to be, a provincially made 'Puritan' spoon and would date around 1650.
The fact that it was not officially hallmarked is not uncommon with provincially made pieces, and the use of a design rather than the maker's initials is also not surprising considering the high percentage of the population that were illiterate at this time.

Is the mark at the end of the stem the same as the others?

Trev.

[awatkins]

Hi Trev,

Thanks for your info!

Yes the mark at the end is the same as the others although not as clear as the main hallmark. This is a photo of the other side of the spoon. The "L.L" engraved are the initials of my great (x4) grandfather Leonard Lovegrove. His family lived around Gloucester, England at the time I believe - not sure if this points to a location where it may have been made?



Thanks,
Andrea

[Theoderich]

This is an old silver baptismal spoon which has been in the family since pre-1800's. We suspect it is of British origin but cannot confirm.

Anyone who can help trace the origins of this spoon or unusual hallmark please help!!


http://pic90.picturetrail.com/VOL2362/1 ... 888525.jpg

Looks like a lion head