Louis Laroche Punch Ladle, c.1730 Duty Dodger

Louis Laroche is a rarely encountered silversmith of Huguenot descent. According to Grimwade, he entered his first mark in 1725 and was tried and convicted for counterfeiting marks in 1742. Interestingly, this silver punch ladle would seem to be evidence of that as it bears his maker's mark four times in an effort to replicate hallmarks! It bears a very clear example of his "LL" maker's mark to the underside of the bowl and three further maker's marks to the ladle's interior which are only partly punched with the presumed intention that at a glance would appear to be genuine hallmarks. This punch ladle is therefore a good example of an early duty dodger.

This Georgian silver punch ladle retains its original turned, black wooden handle and has a nice feeling of quality in the hand with the silver bowl made from a good gauge of metal and the workmanship of the highest quality. It is a very fine example of its type and is in excellent condition.