"BRIT" "PLY" Silver Trefid Spoon, 1698 Wilcockes

This is a scarce West Country made antique silver trefid spoon with a rare set of marks that were peculiar to Plymouth.

The spoon is a typical example of a late 17th century provincial trefid spoon with a bold rattail to the reverse of the bowl and is engraved to the terminal with "EB" initials over the date of "1698". It is light in weight and consequently the bowl tip feels a little thin and has probably been re-worked, otherwise condition is fine. 

The marks feature a "Ply" (backwards "y") to indicate the place of manufacture, "Brit" to denote the higher standard silver (95.8% pure as opposed to Sterling's 92.5%) and the "Wi" mark of the maker Joseph Willcokes - the the first two letters of the surname being the requirement for the New Standard (Britannia). 

The use of the purer Britannia standard silver was made compulsory in 1697 and as enforcement was ad-hoc in the provinces, most provincial makers will have initially ignored the statute. As a high ranking, prosperous member of society, it would seem Willcockes was more diligent in adhering to the new regulations and proudly stamped his wares accordingly. The "Brit" mark is especially unusual as there was only a short four year period between the introduction of Britannia standard and the opening of the Exeter Assay office in 1701.

An illustration of these exact marks can be found in "Jackson's Silver & Gold Marks" (Pickford edition) on page 320 (final entry) and with the added note relating the marks to a "Trefid spoon engraved 1698", it must be this spoon that is referenced.