Antique Mote Spoon, 1760

This great example of a Georgian silver mote spoon has an attractive scroll pierced bowl for lifting dust particles (motes) from a cup of tea and the end of the stem has a mitre-shaped spike for unclogging blocked-up teapot spouts.

This mid-18th century spoon is marked twice in typical fashion on the narrow stem with the lion passant and maker's mark; only the top half of the latter is present and appears to be "TW" for the known mote spoon maker, Thomas Wallis. This antique silver mote spoon remains in excellent condition with neither damage nor repair.