Queen Anne Marrow Spoon with Beaded Rattail, 1703

This is an extremely rare example of a silver marrow spoon with a beaded rattail as seen on trefid pattern table spoons of the period. We have never before encountered this decoration on a marrow spoon.

Dating from the reign of Queen Anne, this piece has a typical table spoon-sized bowl to one end and a narrow scoop to the other. Marrowfat taken from large beef bones were an 18th century delicacy and the scoop section of this spoon would have been used to tease out those tasty morsels.

This is a top quality marrow spoon with a good, hefty feel in the hand. It was made by William Petley and has his script "Pe" with crown above maker's mark as part of the clear Britannia standard hallmarks. The condition is excellent throughout and original "AS" ownership initials are located on the front shank.

William Petley was apprenticed to William Mathew in 1692 and was one of the major spoonmakers during the first decades of the 18th century.