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Provincial Brittania Silver Trefid Spoon - Exeter
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Reference: S1507
Period: George I
Year: 1714
Silversmith: John Manley I
Place: Exeter
Price: $ 390.00
Weight: 41 grams
Dimensions: 19.9 cm
Condition: Very good, bowl a good shape, no dents. Scratches from use. Back of rat-tail has a casting flaw, scratches along rat-tail.
Description: A provincial silver trefid spoon, made in Exeter in 1714. The spoon has an oval bowl, rat-tail with ribs, a flat stem and the traditionally shaped end with 2 clefts, with a slight upturn. The spoon is engraved "MH 1707" on the back of the spoon, the MH are co-joined, and the engraving is contemporary. During this period spoons were placed on the table bowl down, hence the engraving on the back. The spoon is quite light, as is often the case with provincial spoons, but in very good condition, given its age. The spoon has 5 hallmarks, makers mark MA co-joined, 3 turreted castle (Exeter town mark), Brittania (very worn), lions head erased (used in Exeter between 1701 and 1720 to denote Britannia silver, which is higher grade than Sterling), and date letter O in shield for 1714. The makers mark appears to be MA co-joined, but could also be read the other way around (?W). We now believe this to be the mark of John Manley I of Dartmouth, who entered his mark in Exeter in 1705 (See mark 86, West Country Spoons and their makers, Kent, pg 109). We had considered the following other possible candidates: Edward Sweet (Jackson pg 292), another is John Mortimer (Jackson pg 292, and Kent, West Country Silver Spoons and their Makers, pg 112). Other possible candidates are John Murch of Plymouth (Kent pg 113), or Mary Ashe of Launceston (kent pg 66). We would like to thank a fellow member of the Silver Spoon Club of Great Britain for assistance in identifying the maker.
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Exeter Silver Trefid Spoon
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Exeter silver trefid spoon - back
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Exeter Hallmarks
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Exeter Hallmarks 2
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Exeter Silver Trefid spoon - 1707
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Close up of hallmarks
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Exeter Hallmarks 3
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Exeter Hallmarks 3
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