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Hello,

I have a Dutch spoon (gelegenheidslepel). It looks old but I can not find no hallmarks so it seams to be not marked. Can somebody give me more information about which time this spoon was probably made? And if it is possible who was the maker?

Many thanks!

Hi, welcome to the forum. Dutch ornamental spoon or presentation spoon for a special occasion.
The spoon's finial showing William & Mary to remember ( celebrate ) the marriage of William III and Mary, the 4th November 1677.
William and Mary refers to the coregency of King William III and Queen Mary II. (Both were heirs to the British throne: William was the only child of William II, Prince of Orange and Mary, Princess of Orange, daughter of King Charles I of England. Mary was the eldest daughter of the Duke of York (the future King James II & VII).)

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_III_of_England

Without marks it is impossible to identify the maker of your spoon. These silver cast ornamental spoons are still made today.


Peter.

Thank you for your reply. After close observation I noticed traces of gilding. Is this common for these spoons? Does that may be tell more about the period that it was made? Or which place?

Yes, some are gilded, sometimes only the inside of the spoon's bowl is gilded. My best guess your spoon is made in the Dutch province of Friesland (Frisia), late 18th to early 19th century. What is the weight of the spoon, below 51 gram?


Peter.

Thank you for your response. The weight of the spoon is 53 gram.

In the book Nederlands klein zilver 1650-1880 by B.W.G Wttewaal on page 284 it 's mentioned ; for 17th-18th century decorative/ornamental spoons, the weight should be 2 to 3 g per cm. False spoons are often too heavy.


Peter.

The spoon is 16,7 cm long and the weight is 54 gram. So that is 3.23 gram per cm. A little to heavy. This allong with the missing hallmarks make me doubt it is a 18th century spoon. Rather a 19th century copy.

Yes, I share your opinion, 19th century.

Peter.