Flower Picture-back Silver Mote Spoon, c.1750

This is a fine quality George II period silver mote spoon with an attractive flower-head and scrolls picture back design.

The spoon is attractively pierced to the bowl with crosslets and scrolls and is engraved with original "EB" initials to the reverse side. The pierced bowl allowed the user to remove dust motes from the surface that were prevalent in tea at the time and the spike to the end of the handle was used for clearing out blocked teapot spouts.

The clear lion passant mark to the stem was used between 1739 and 1755 and accurately dates the piece, whilst the maker's mark, although indistinct, is most likely that of Marmaduke Daintrey.