Large Asprey Medicine Spoon, 1868 with Enamel Armorial

This is a large double-ended silver medicine spoon made by Chawner & Company under the leadership of George Adams.

The spoon consists of two differently sized bowls (one table spoon-sized and the other teaspoon-sized) either side of a central shank with an enamelled armorial. The arms can be blazoned as "Per pale Argent and Sable a chevron between three talbots statant all counterchanged, on a chief Gules three leopards’ faces Or". It isn't often on silver that the colours of an armorial can be clearly seen as in this enamelled example.

The reverse of the shank shows the clear set of hallmarks and is engraved with the name and address of London's prestigious retailer - "Asprey 166 Bond Street and 22 Albemarle Street.

The condition excellent throughout and the large size and enamelled coat-of-arms to the central shaft sets this rare medicine spoon apart from others. A fabulous piece!

The armorial is likely for Gooch of Benacre for Sir Francis Robert Sherlock Lambert Gooch, 8th Baronet (1850-1881), or Gooch of Clewer Park for Sir Daniel Gooch, 1st Baronet (1816-1889).

The Gooch Baronetcy of Clewer Park, in the County of Berkshire, was created on 15 November 1866 for the mechanical engineer, businessman and politician Daniel Gooch. The baronetcy was conferred on him in recognition of his services to the successful submersion of the Atlantic Cables of 1865 and 1866. For more information, see this link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Gooch 

Also, please see Wikipedia at this link for further information about the Gooch Baronetcies and an identical image of the arms as per this spoon:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gooch_baronets