Burnell and Rowe

Description

Here we have a set of six George III Sterling Silver Teaspoons in the Old English pattern with Bright Cut decoration down the length of the stems. In addition the initials L.I.A are neatly engraved in the cartouche at the top of the stems.

The teaspoons are made in Newcastle-upon-Tyne by Thomas Watson and date to around the 1790s. Thomas Watson was a specialist spoon maker who worked in Newcastle from the early 1790s until his death in 1845. The oblong makers' mark stamped onto these spoons was only used in the 1790s however.

Newcastle-upon-Tyne had a vibrant silversmith and goldsmith industry as far back as the Middle Ages but the assay office wasn't formally established until 1702. Date lettering in Newcastle was always a little hit and miss and on small items such as these teaspoons was often missing altogether. The Newcastle office was closed in 1884, making Newcastle silver of great interest to collectors.

Condition is generally good with just a few small dings to the bowls, which is only to be expected after over 220 years of good service. The bright cut engraving is very crisp and it is possible that this is a later Victorian addition to the spoons, although the engraving of the initials is certainly in keeping with the 1790s. Please make sure to view all the photographs.

The teaspoons are each 13.1cm / 5.2ins long and the set of six together weighs in at a respectable 66.9g / 2.3oz of solid Sterling Silver.

The hallmarks on the underside of the stems are a little rubbed, as you would expect but still easy to read. They show the lion passant for Sterling Silver, the three towers assay mark for Newcastle, the George III duty mark and the oblong TW makers's mark for Thomas Watson in the 1790s.

Shipping in the UK is £10 by Royal Mail Special Delivery, which includes cover for the value of the spoons.
Overseas customers, please ask us about shipping costs to your country before making a purchase.