George III Sterling Silver Serving Spoons (Pair)

Pair of George III sterling silver serving spoon, hallmarked…
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Pair of George III sterling silver serving spoon, hallmarked London, 1781, Wt, in Old English feather edge pattern, total weight 135gm, length 22 cm (2)

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  • Marrow Spoon - A spoon with a long handle and a narrow scoop shaped bowl, used to scoop and eat marrow from the hollow centre of roasted bones. Some marrow scoops are double ended with a different shaped bowl at each end.
  • Sterling Silver - Sterling silver is a mixture of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% of another metal, usually copper. Fine silver is 99.9% pure silver, and is relatively soft and the addition of the very small amount of copper gives the metal enough strength and hardness to be worked into jewellery, decorative and household objects.
  • Feather Edge - A feather edge on a silver item refers to a decorative border that is created by using a series of thin, closely spaced lines that resemble the feathers of a bird. The feather edge design, first applied in Britain circa 1765, is often applied to the edges or rims of silver plates, bowls, or other hollow ware to create a decorative border. It's a common design element in antique and vintage silver items and is also used on modern pieces. The feather edge is created by hand, using a specialized tool called a burin, and is often combined with other decorative elements, such as engraving or chasing, to create a unique and ornate design.
  • George Iii - George III (1738 - 1820) was King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1760 to 1820.
  • Hallmarks - A mark stamped on articles of precious metals in Britain, since the 14th century, certifying their purity. It derives its name from the Guild Hall of the Goldsmiths' Company, who recieved its Charter in 1327 giving it the power to assay (test the purity) and mark articles of gold and silver.

    The hallmark will consist of several marks, including the:

    - silver standard mark, indicating the purity of the metal. Sterling silver is .925 pure silver.

    - the city mark indicating the city in which it was assayed eg London, Birmingham, York etc.

    - the date mark, usually a letter of the alphabet in a particular font and case,

    - a duty mark, indicating whether duty had been paid to the crown, and only in use from 1784 to 1890

    The piece may include an additional mark, the maker's mark, although not forming part of the hallmark, will be located in the vicinity of the hallmarks.

    Sometimes silver plated items will bear faux hallmarks, often confusing those not familiar with silver markings.

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