Caddy Spoon with engraving to both sides, 1783

Silver caddy spoons decorated with engraving to both the front and reverse sides are quite a rarity and seemed to be fashionable for just a few short years in the early 1780's. They tended to have egg-shaped bowl and this example also has an axe-shaped handle.

The front of the handle is engraved around the border of the handle, pus there is a gothic script monogram within the shield-shaped cartouche. The reverse is similarly engraved around the handle, plus the reverse of the bowl has an engraved shield with a tied ribbon to the top.

This lovely caddy spoon was made by George Smith and is appropriately stamped with a lion passant and the date letter for 1783 (caddy spoons were first stamped with date letters in 1781). The spoon is in excellent condition.

For further information, please see our article on Early Silver Caddy Spoons where this spoon is illustrated in figures 15/16.