Odd mark on a teaspoon.
Odd mark on a teaspoon.
This is an Irish Bright Cut teaspoon c1794. There is no apparent maker’s mark, but there is an odd feint mark below Hibernia and the Crowned Harp. It seems to be circle with a cross or a wheel or something I cannot imagine. Any thoughts anyone?
Re: Odd mark on a teaspoon.
Hi Paul,
Just my take on it, but I'm wondering if it's deliberately unreadable. My line of thinking is because I'm not comfortable with the Crowned Harp.
I haven't the opportunity at the moment to compare with other examples, but the tilt of the harp against the position of the crown is of concern, as is the amount of strings on the harp, which from memory, should be about five or six, whereas yours appears to have no more than four. But I'll confess to having a fascination with period fakes which does, on occasion, cause wishful thinking.
I should have the chance later this week to make a better comprasion with other examples, but hopefully someone can imput something a little more concrete in the meantime.
Regards Trev.
Just my take on it, but I'm wondering if it's deliberately unreadable. My line of thinking is because I'm not comfortable with the Crowned Harp.
I haven't the opportunity at the moment to compare with other examples, but the tilt of the harp against the position of the crown is of concern, as is the amount of strings on the harp, which from memory, should be about five or six, whereas yours appears to have no more than four. But I'll confess to having a fascination with period fakes which does, on occasion, cause wishful thinking.
I should have the chance later this week to make a better comprasion with other examples, but hopefully someone can imput something a little more concrete in the meantime.
Regards Trev.
Re: Odd mark on a teaspoon.
Hello Trev,
Interesting theory. This is one of four. On the other three, the back of the Harp actually joins the Crown. On all of them the shield shapes are rather poor and Hibernia is almost unrecognisably ill defined. Irish silver is not my strong point, but a provincial pseudo mark might be a good explanation. I too like a good duty dodger or pseudo mark. I will look forward to forthcoming ideas.
Paul.
Interesting theory. This is one of four. On the other three, the back of the Harp actually joins the Crown. On all of them the shield shapes are rather poor and Hibernia is almost unrecognisably ill defined. Irish silver is not my strong point, but a provincial pseudo mark might be a good explanation. I too like a good duty dodger or pseudo mark. I will look forward to forthcoming ideas.
Paul.
Re: Odd mark on a teaspoon.
Hi Paul,
Sorry for the delay in repling. I finally had the opportunity to view a friend's collection of Irish spoons.
My thoughts on the harp strings can be dismissed, I found several examples with three, four, and five strings, a variance that I thought had disappeared earlier. As for the tilt between the crown and the harp, I did find a couple of examples of the late 18th century mark with a slight gap, but nothing of the proportions on your spoon. I've added a couple of images below, but they did not photograph well.
I'm wondering now if the gap could be the result of the reworking of the spoon handle post assay, and causing a stretch of the mark to one side.
Regards Trev.
Sorry for the delay in repling. I finally had the opportunity to view a friend's collection of Irish spoons.
My thoughts on the harp strings can be dismissed, I found several examples with three, four, and five strings, a variance that I thought had disappeared earlier. As for the tilt between the crown and the harp, I did find a couple of examples of the late 18th century mark with a slight gap, but nothing of the proportions on your spoon. I've added a couple of images below, but they did not photograph well.
I'm wondering now if the gap could be the result of the reworking of the spoon handle post assay, and causing a stretch of the mark to one side.
Regards Trev.
Re: Odd mark on a teaspoon.
Thanks Trev. I will keep in in the 'oddities' file for now.
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