Laceback Trefid Spoon, Exeter 1701

This fantastic trefid spoon has two important features that make it stand out from other spoons of the period. Firstly, this trefid spoon has the highly desirable lace-back decoration in the form of a complex die-stamped pattern of scrolls to the reverse of the bowl around the rattail and also to the front terminal.

Secondly, this spoon bears a documentary set of Britannia Standard hallmarks for the first year of the Exeter Assay Office - the office opened in 1701 and used date letter "A" for the first year. The reverse terminal bears dot-pricked betrothal initials with the date "1707" below. The spoon is in good order throughout with crisp decoration, clear hallmarks and a good bowl - although it is slightly sharp at the tip.