Picture and Fancy Back Spoon Request
Picture and Fancy Back Spoon Request
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
.
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
.
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
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.
.
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.
.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
.
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
.
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.
.
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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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" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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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" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
.