A rat-tail spoon with an unknown maker

[Granmaa]

Here is a little rat-tail teaspoon (11.5cm). I'd say it was made in the early 18th century. It has one mark: IH with a crown above and what looks like a four leaf clover below. It's possible that the mark is HI but unlikely.
The name Jean Harache has been suggested to me. Can anyone confirm this or suggest another maker?

Miles




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[dmay]

The mark is that of Jean Harache, whose mark was entered in 1726. The mark below the letters is a lion.
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[Granmaa]

Thanks for that, dmay.
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[Britannia958]

Hi Granmaa.

I'm new to the forum and the first thing I did was search on 'Harache', hence my reply to your spoon question.

There has been alot of activity among academics of the silver world regarding the Harache family, much of which has been published by the Huguenot Society (PROCEEDINGS- HUGUENOT SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND - 2005 VOL 28; NUMB 3; page(s)364-376) and also by The Silver Society (SILVER STUDIES - 2005 VOL 19; page(s) 71-77 and 2006 VOL 21 page(s) 8-9). A colleague and I (mainly my colleague!) have also edited the Wikipedia entry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harache) to recognise this more recent research, although the page does need more work.

Research is ongoing, so there may yet be further details about your maker.
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[Granmaa]

Thankyou for that; just in case you didn't know, there is a lengthy article about the Haraches in the last edition of The Finial 17/04.
It identifies the maker who entered his mark in 1726 as Jean Harache II as opposed to Grimwade who only recognises one.

Miles
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[Granmaa]

On looking at the Wikipedia article it's now apparent that you wrote the piece in The Finial, so I imagine you do know about it!

Best wishes,
Miles
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