Burnell and Rowe

Description

This is a good quality set of six early Victorian Sterling Silver Teaspoons in the classic Fiddle pattern. There are no initials or personalisation of any kind.

The spoons are made in Exeter by William Rawlings Sobey and date to 1840. William Sobey was a specialist spoon maker who operated from premises in Queen Street, in the heart of the city of Exeter, from the late 1820s until his death in 1852. Silver working in Exeter goes back to at least the Middle Ages but the assay office was not formally established until 1701. It was the principal office for the whole of South West England but as manufacturing became more centralised in London, Birmingham and Sheffield the amount of assaying declined and the office closed in 1883, leading to Exeter stamped silver becoming much sought after by collectors.

Condition is very good, with just a couple of very small dings to the bowl of one of the six spoons plus the superficial surface wear that has to be expected after over 180 years of use. Please make sure to view all the photographs.

Each teaspoon is 13.3cm / 5.2ins long and the set of six together weighs in at a substantial 90g / 3.2oz of solid Sterling Silver.

The hallmarks, on the underside of the stem, are well struck and clear to read. They show the lion passant for Sterling Silver, the three towered wall assay mark for Exeter, the Gothic date letter D for 1840 and the W.R.S makers' mark for William Rawlings Sobey.

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.