Lady Maker Silver Trefid Spoon, 1697 Joyce Issod

This is an extremely rare and important silver trefid spoon with marks for the lady silversmith Joyce Issod. This is the only item we have encountered by this maker!

The spoon itself is in marvellous condition with a fine antique patina. It has a good, unworn bowl and original engraved betrothal initials to the reverse terminal, where the uppermost "C" is the initial letter of the newly weds surname.

The Britannia Standard hallmarks are superb - this higher purity was first introduced and made compulsory in March 1697 to prevent the continuation of coin clipping to make silverware. Unlike the Sterling standard, maker's marks comprised the first two letters of the surname and the marks on the spoon are "IS" within a lozenge which denotes the mark of a widow. Thomas Issod was a specialist spoonmaker and his widow Joyce took over the running of the business following his death.