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Rare Rattail Brittania Silver Hanoverian Serving Ladle - George I
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Reference: S1272
Period: George I
Year: 1719
Silversmith: Gabriel Sleath
Place: London
Price: $ 1 950.00
Weight: 135 grams
Dimensions: 27.0cm
Condition: Excellent, slight wear on base where ladle rests on a table.
Description: An extremely rare, Brittania silver, rattail soup ladle in the Hanoverian pattern, of good gauge. The patination on the ladle is lovely, and the bowl, rattail and handle are in proportion, with no sign of alteration. The ladle has the initials E*G scratch engraved on the back of the handle. The stem rises at a sharp angle (almost 90 degrees) to the bowl, the characteristics of a ladle as opposed to a spoon. Snodin (English silver spoons, 1974, pg 46) describes the earliest ladles as dating from the 1730's, this is a rare early example. The hallmarks are worn but visible, the makers mark is very worn, with only the outline of the shield and a ghosting of the makers initials visible. The date letter is poorly struck, but visible enought to determine D from 1719 fairly confidently. Given the wear on the makers mark, an interesting debate has ensued as to the maker. The first letter is definitely S, the second is unclear, the distinctively shaped shield surrounding the makers mark is clearly visible. We had originally attributed it to William Scarlett, but now believe Gabriel Sleath (Grimwade 2569, Jackson pg. 162) is far more likely. Sleath worked between 1701 and 1756, and was Deputy Warden in 1753. This we believe is his Britannia mark, introduced in 1707. We welcome all opinions and thoughts on this rare piece - thank you.
This ladle has now been inspected by a leading London dealer, who confirms that the ladle is original and unaltered, maker Gabriel Sleath and date 1719.
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Rattail soupladle
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Side view
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Rattail
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Initials
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Hallmark 1
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Makers mark
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