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From the 1730s to the 1770s British teaspoons (and occasionally tablespoons and dessert spoons) were often decorated with shells, scrolls and pictures; some were purely ornamental, and others carried political messages.

An article for the site on this subject, illustrated with photos, would be an extremely interesting and educational resource. If you have any clear examples, I would be grateful if you could post a photo in this thread along with, if you know it, the maker's name and the date (in the case of tablespoons). If you have a less worn example than an existing photo, please post it.

Thankyou for any additions,
Miles

To begin:

Vase of flowers
Basket of flowers by Thomas Devonshire and William Watkins
Rudimentary Shell
Shell and Scroll by Richard Bindy


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Hi Miles,
Nice idea, thought we might include Americans, so here's my paltry collection. Forgive the quality of the birdback image, ten years old from my first camera. I have it catalogued as Samuel Soumaine of Philadelphia c.1760, though I would not swear to the attribution. The middle shellback is by Joshua George Davis of Boston c.1795 and the righthand shellback is c.1815 by John W. Forbes of New York.

Regards, Tom

Hi,

This is how John Luddington in his excellent 'Starting to Collect Silver' book, lists the degree of rarity of picture-backs. The list, while no means comprehensive, is however, a good guide.

Pierrot.....................................Very Rare
Broken bagpipes......................Very Rare
Hen with more than two chicks...Rare
Heron in bullrushes.................. Rare
A cock crowing.........................Rare
Milkmaid with pails....................Rare
Swan.......................................Rare
Parrot......................................Rare
Stag........................................Rare
Tea pot....................................Rather Rare
Masonic emblems.....................Rather Rare
Cockerel..................................Rather Rare
Squirrel....................................Rather Rare
Hen with two chicks...................Rather Rare
Double-headed eagle.................Rather Rare
Prince of Wales' feathers............Rather Rare
Crown......................................Rather Rare
Burning heart...........................Rather Rare
Hearts of oak...........................Rather Rare
Dolphin....................................Rather Rare
Sheaf of corn and word 'Plenty'..Not to hard to find
Cage below 'I love liberty'.........Not to hard to find
Ship........................................Not to hard to find
Dove and olive branch..............Not to hard to find
Flower arrangements................Common
Shell.......................................Common
Scroll......................................Common
Shell and scroll........................Common

The book's title is something of a misnomer, there's something here for everybody.

Trev.
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Hi,

The weather wasn't good for taking photos outside today, but here is the first batch.

1.
Table spoon 1756 Maker unknown as yet.

2.
Tea spoon William Penstone III (Grimwade 3260)

3.
Tea spoon Nathaniel Underwood (Grimwade 2981) Maker's mark only-Struck twice.

4.
Teaspoon Thomas Dene (Grimwade 2726)

5.
Teaspoon John Scofield (Grimwade 3709)

6.
Tea spoon Edward Dobson (Grimwade 571)

Will try to post some more ASAP

Trev.

Great additions, Trev.

"Loop and line" shell by Marmaduke Daintrey


"Loop and line" shell by Thomas Dealtry


Realistic scallop shell by Pierre Maingy


Shell and scroll by John Lambe


Shell and scroll by Elizabeth Oldfield

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Hi Miles,

A few more examples

1.
Table spoon 1763 London, Maker unknown as yet.

2.
Tea spoon Elizabeth Tookey (Grimwade 3558)

3.
Teaspoon Thomas Evans (Grimwade 2742)

4.
Teaspoon Phillip Roker II (Grimwade 3753)

5.
Teaspoon John Crawford--Newcastle--1784 Incuse Duty Mark

6.
Teaspoon No Makers Mark--Provincial--1784 Incuse Duty Mark

It's interesting to note just how far fashion was behind London in the provincial examples.

Will post more ASAP.

Trev.

Hi,

This one's got me guessing.

At first, I thought this was a regular 'Shell and Scroll' type picture-back, but on closer inspection, maybe not.



Note the left hand side, I wondered at first if this was a sword hilt. I also wondered, having never seen an example, if this was the 'broken bagpipes' picture-back, unlikely, I know, but whatever it is, the left hand side differs from the right.

It's one of a set of three. I'm still working on the maker.

Any opinions?

Trev.

Hi,

A few more examples



You need your imagination with this one, but it appears to be a pheasant.
Thomas Wallis (Grimwade 2962)



See http://www.925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=13852



Uncertain, probably Edward Dobson, 1739-1755 Lion Passant




Unknown



Unknown



Unknown

Trev.

I still haven't given up on this project. Eventually, I hope to make a helpful article on this subject. Please do add any examples you have.
Here are a few more of my own.

Miles


Urn of Flowers William Skeen


Strange shell and scroll


Scroll and Flower Marmaduke Daintrey


Basket of flowers with outline (also picture on front)


Flower and Scroll Thomas Wallis
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A ship picture back by William Turner.

Miles


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A friend of mine was kind enough to send me this image of the picture back of a Phillip Roker table spoon assayed at London in 1770.



The picture back is thought to represent John Wilkes of 'I love liberty' fame. The clue to the attribution is the 'Cap of Liberty' that surmounts the wreath.

For further information on John Wilkes see:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wilkes

Trev.
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Some more examples of rare picture backs sent from a friend.





1/ Turkey and chicks.

2/ Hen on nest.

3/Male figure (possibly the actor Woodward).

More to follow.

Trev.

Three more examples.





4/ Running Stag.

5/ Squirrel on Stump.

6/ Double-headed Spread Eagle.

More to follow.

Trev.

Another three gems.





7/ Dolphin.

8/ Heron in reeds.

9/ Masonic.

More to follow.

Trev.

From a set of five small (4 1/2 in.), somewhat crudely made from hand-formed sheet, likely American, Old English Pattern teaspoons, unknown maker (no marks):



A reverse image of this pattern appears on a spoon identified as by Caleb Beal of Massachusetts (late eighteenth century):



I'm still interested in identifying the maker or at least the region of manufacture of my spoons, if interested please see the following thread in this forum:

http://925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6814
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Three more.





10/ Prince of Wales feathers.
11/ Unsure (Thoughts welcome).
12/ Wheatsheaf.

Trev.

These are all absolutely beautiful examples, Trev. Much appreciated.

Miles
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Hi Miles,

They are rather special aren't they.

I've been informed that number 11 is a wheatsheaf with the word 'PLENTY' underneath.

Trev.
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I'm not sure what this one is. It looks like two serpents coming out of an orb with a crown above. Possible Jacobite meaning. Robert Sallam c.1770.

Miles


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Hi Miles,

I'm reliably informed that is is a 'Double-headed eagle under a crown'.

Here are seven 'Galleon' picture backs.





The centre one in the first photo is a scarce example as it is not in profile.

Trev.