Duty Dodger Silver Table Spoon by Emick Romer

This is a fine quality silver table spoon made by the scarcely encountered silversmith Emick Romer. It is struck four times with his "ER" maker's mark which labels it a "duty dodger". Romer was of Norwegian origin and completed his silversmithing apprenticeship in that country before settling in London during the 1760's. 

The spoon has a lovely feather edge design that is typical of the 1770's and dates the spoon accurately to this decade. The spoon is in great condition with crisp decoration and a good antique patina. The bowl has retained its full shape and although the tip is beginning to thin a little, overall it is in fine condition.

The special feature of this antique table spoon are the four "ER" maker's marks which indicate that after manufacture, instead of sending the spoon for assay, the maker avoided paying these fees and struck his own maker's mark multiple times in lieu  - known as a duty dodger. The four marks are meant to simulate those applied by the assay office and with a casual glance would pass muster. This makes the spoon highly collectable as an 18th century oddity!

All in all, this is a first rate example of a duty dodger with lots of interesting features.