Sphinx Caddy Spoon, 1880

Hilliard & Thomason made some excellent novelty examples of silver caddy spoons and the handle of this particularly clever spoon is modelled as the Egyptian Sphinx. 

A near identical example spoon is illustrated and discussed on page 24 of "Caddy Spoons: An illustrated Supplement" by John Norie, where he describes the invention of the spoon likely due to the spirit of the times, when Britain was heavily involved in Egyptian affairs and the 70 foot high Cleopatra's Needle had recently been brought to London.

This rare spoon has a cast Sphinx finial on its cleverly shaped handle and a shovel-shaped bowl. It remains in fine, antique condition.