George III Sterling Silver Serving Spoons, 1814/15
You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Subscribe Now to view actual auction price for this item
When you subscribe, you have the option of setting the currency in which to display prices to $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.
- Patination / Patina - In broad terms, patination refers to the exterior surface appearance of the timber, the effect of fading caused by exposure to sunlight and air over the course of a century or more, changing the piece to a soft, mellow colour.
As patina is very difficult to replicate, it is one of the most important guides to determining the age of furniture.
Patina is also the term applied to the bloom or film found on old bronzes due to oxidisation. - 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.
- 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. - George Iii - George III (1738 - 1820) was King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1760 to 1820.
This item has been included into following indexes:
Visually similar items
A set of six sterling silver teaspoons, 1821/22, London with maker's mark William Eley & William Fearn. Fiddle back spoons, engraved with monograms; hallmarked. Silver weight 120gr length 13.5 cm
Set eight George IV sterling silver soup spoons, London 1829, maker Barak Mewburn, each monogrammed. Length 23 cm (each). Weight 630grams (total)
Set six Victorian sterling silver dessert spoons, London 1845, maker's mark rubbed, (possibly Ee, Elizabeth Eaton), Old English Military & Thread pattern, crested. Length 18 cm (each). Weight 438grams (total)
Six George IV sterling silver dessert spoons, London 1823, makers William Eaton,(2), and London 1829, maker Barak Mewburn, (4), fiddle pattern, monogrammed. Length 17 cm (each). Weight 262grams (total)