Penrose Antiques

Description

For sale is a lovely pair of true Victorian Exeter silver preserving spoons.

In the mid 19th century fruit was becoming steadily more available in the UK and the silversmiths of the day, ever with an eye to making a profit, designed the preserve spoon to provide a decorative way of handling fruit. The gilding of the bowl in this was all-important, for it protected the silver from the acidic fruit juices.

By the early Victorian period some very fine silver preserve spoons were manufactured. This pair are a lovely example of these bespoke preserve spoons, the gilded bowls are embossed with baskets of exotic fruit with a decoration that extends onto the ornately molded handles. These spoons carry hallmarks for Exeter 1848 and the makers mark for John Stone.

These spoons should not be confused with berry spoons. Berry spoons were made from earlier Georgian spoons that later had their bowls embossed, (berried) with a berry design. This berrying of Georgian silver spoons continued right into the mid to late 20th century. True preserve spoons designed and made for the purpose, are rare and are becoming very hard to find.

Length 8 7/8 inches Maximum width of bowl 2 1/8 inches

Weight approximately 4½oz