Very Heavy Pair Rattail Silver Table Spoons, 1718 Hitchcock

This is a fabulous quality pair of George I period silver table spoons made from Britannia standard silver.

With an average weight just under 80 grams, these are especially heavy spoons. The condition is superb and just look at their thick bowl tips! They are in the Hanoverian pattern with very bold rattails to the underside of the bowls and a prominent central front ridge. The engraved coat of arms are quartered and the lack of tincture is typical of the pre-1720 period suggesting they are contemporary with manufacture.

The Britannia standard hallmarks are a touch rubbed, but the "C" London date letter can be seen to one and both "HI" maker's mark are slightly mis-struck on the narrow stem but the fleur de lys underneath the letters confirms the attribution to the specialist spoonmaker Samuel Hitchcock. This maker was apprenticed to John Brace (1699-1706) and in turn went on to be master of future spoonmakers, such as William Soame (1713-20) and Samuel Roby (1733-1740).

These are an excellent pair of early, rattail table spoons in fine condition with a lovely antique patina.