George I Silver Spoon Tray, 1716 Thos. Parr

This is a rare George I period silver spoon tray made by Thomas Parr.

A shallow dish such as this would have been used alongside tea equipage for holding tea and mote spoons. It has a lovely antique feel in the hand reflecting its 300+ year age and bears hallmarks for the purer Britannia standard silver spread around the top surface. The use of Britannia standard was compulsory between 1697 and 1720 and was first introduced to reduce the illegal practice of coin clipping. The spoon tray is in fine condition with an excellent patina.

Apprenticed in 1687 to Simon Noy, Thomas Parr became free in 1694, entered his first mark at Goldsmiths Hall in 1697 and worked as a largeworker until his death in 1728.