Burnell and Rowe

Description

This is a very good quality pair of Victorian Sterling Silver Teaspoons in the traditional Fiddle pattern. The teaspoons are made in Exeter by John Stone and date to 1858. John Stone was a very successful specialist spoon maker in Exeter who was in business between about 1830 and 1860. His spoons and flatware are of consistently good quality and much sought after.

Exeter has a long tradition of silver making and hallmarking going back into the middle ages but the assay office wasn't formally established until an Act of Parliament in 1701. It was the principal assay office for the South West of England but as silversmithing became more concentrated in London, Birmingham and Sheffield the work dried up and the office was closed in 1883, making Exeter hallmarks comparatively rare and very collectable.

These two teaspoons are in the traditional fiddle pattern and have the initials "JB" elegantly engraved at the top of the stem. Condition is good with only the minimal wear you would expect after over 160 years of service. Please make sure to view all the photographs.

Each spoon is 14.2cm / 5.6" long and the pair together weigh a substantial 36.0g / 1.27oz of solid Sterling Silver.

The hallmarks, on the underside of the stem, are crisp and very clear to read. They show the lion passant for Sterling Silver, the three towered wall assay mark for Exeter, the date letter "B" for 1858, the Queen Victoria duty mark and the JS makers' mark for John Stone.

Shipping in the UK is £4 by Royal Mail 1st Class Signed For.
Overseas customers please ask us about shipping costs to your country before making a purchase.