Ribbed Front Silver Table Spoon, 1714 Wm Scarlett

This is an extremely rare form of silver table spoon - a dog nose spoon with the added feature of a rib or rattail down the centre of the front stem. 

Dating from the first year of George I's reign, this spoon is a relatively late example of a dog nose and it may be the ribbing to the front was a transitional form to the newly introduced Hanoverian pattern which has a central ridge to the front stem. The spoon was made by the specialist spoonmaker William Scarlett and the few examples of this type of spoon that we have seen are all by this maker. Presumably it was a protype alternative to the Hanoverian Rattail spoon that didn't catch on.

The spoon is in fine condition with some thinning to the bowl tip (shape retained) - accounting for the competitive price. It is engraved to the reverse terminal with original "T" over "C*A" betrothal initials and has a strong rattail to the bowl reverse in addition to the very prominent front ribbing.

The reverse of the stem is stamped with a great set of Britannia standard London hallmarks, including the "Sc" maker's mark. William Scarlet was the most prolific spoonmaker of a 35-year period from 1694 to 1729. He was the master to many future talented spoonmakers including George Cox, William Juson, Henry Clarke, Nathaniel Roe, Richard Scarlett and Jeremiah King

Another example hallmarked for London 1714 is illustrated in "Old Silver Spoons of England" by Norman Gask on plate XXVII (page 155).