waxantiques

Spoons & Forks

Collectors Spoons, Dessert , Dinner Spoons, Soup and Serving Spoons
Tea, Coffee, Salt and Mustard Spoons, Caddy Spoons, Marrow Spoons, Mote Spoons

Browse our collection of antique sterling silver spoons and forks. These have a very practical purpose on the dinner table and also create a satisfying collecting field with their variety of fascinating designs and uses.

Spoons. Before the 18th century the only items of table silver made in any quantity were spoons. Early English silver spoons can date from as early as the 15th century and are highly collectible, especially spoons by rare makers and from unusual provincial towns. The most popular form of cast terminal was the seal top spoon, named after the circular disc at the top, which often bore the engraved initials of the owners. Lion sejant spoons and apostle spoons were also common from the 15th century to the beginning of the 17th century. From the late 16th century the plain flattened stem of the slip top spoon was introduced which developed during the 17th century into the popular trefid form.
Forks. Silver Dinner and Dessert Forks are rare before the 18th century and are not often found in sets until the late 1700s.
The Sucket Fork is an implement with a teaspoon bowl at one end and a two pronged fork at the other. Very rare and only produced from the late 17th century until the early 18th century.

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Spoons & Forks

Collectors Spoons, Dessert , Dinner Spoons, Soup and Serving Spoons
Tea, Coffee, Salt and Mustard Spoons, Caddy Spoons, Marrow Spoons, Mote Spoons

Browse our collection of antique sterling silver spoons and forks. These have a very practical purpose on the dinner table and also create a satisfying collecting field with their variety of fascinating designs and uses.

Spoons. Before the 18th century the only items of table silver made in any quantity were spoons. Early English silver spoons can date from as early as the 15th century and are highly collectible, especially spoons by rare makers and from unusual provincial towns. The most popular form of cast terminal was the seal top spoon, named after the circular disc at the top, which often bore the engraved initials of the owners. Lion sejant spoons and apostle spoons were also common from the 15th century to the beginning of the 17th century. From the late 16th century the plain flattened stem of the slip top spoon was introduced which developed during the 17th century into the popular trefid form.
Forks. Silver Dinner and Dessert Forks are rare before the 18th century and are not often found in sets until the late 1700s.
The Sucket Fork is an implement with a teaspoon bowl at one end and a two pronged fork at the other. Very rare and only produced from the late 17th century until the early 18th century.

  • Circa 1661

    Stephen Venables

    9086 Antique Charles II Sealtop Silver Spoon

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    An early English period sterling silver spoon with a fig shape bowl and double baluster seal terminal. The seal end has the original gilt finish (worn) with prick dot initials “IW”. Initial “R” to the reverse of the bowl. Weight 42 grams, 1.3 troy ounce. Length 17.1cm. Bowl 6.5x5cm. London circa 1661. Maker Stephen Venables, a leading spoon maker of the period.
    Table silver of this date was stamped with “up the handle” silver marks and it is not unusual that marks punched on the thin central part of the handle stamps are distorted or badly struck and difficult to read.

  • Circa 1680

     

    8717 Antique Silver Trefid Spoon

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    A good antique sterling silver spoon with a trefid terminal and rat-tail bowl. Dessert size. The spoon has a very attractive hand hammered finish. Weight 36 grams, 1 troy ounces. Length 18.5 cms. Bowl 6×4.75 cms. Makers mark ‘TA’ within a shield. Circa 1700.

  • 1689

     

    9261 Antique Silver Trefid Spoon

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    A good antique sterling silver spoon, the oval bowl with incised and beaded rat tail heel, the flat stem with a trefid pattern terminal. William & Mary period. Hand hammered finish. Owners initials to the front and back. Weight 51 grams, 1.6 troy ounces. Length 20cm. Bowl 7×4.6cm. Makers mark ‘IL’ over a mullet, within a shield. London 1689.

  • Circa 1700

     

    7548 Antique William III Silver Forks

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    A rare set of 12 early silver forks with cannon handles and twin prongs. Each hand engraved with a contemporary crest of a stork. Weight 465 grams, 15 troy ounces. Length 16 cms. Three are stamped with the makers mark of SE in an oval punch. Circa 1700.

  • 1703

    John Ladyman

    8149 Queen Anne Silver Dog Nose Spoon

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    A good example of an antique silver dog nose spoon dating from the beginning of Queen Anne’s reign. Made of Britannia standard silver* and retaining the original gilt finish. The reverse of the bowl with a long rat-tail. The front of the terminal hand engraved with an armorial, the reverse of the terminal with the presentation date 12th October 1702. Weight 64 grams, 2 troy ounces. Length 20 cms. London 1703. Maker John Ladyman.

  • 1712

    Lawrence Jones

    8799 Antique Queen Anne Silver Table Spoons

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    A pair of early English silver spoons in the popular Hanoverian rat-tail pattern. Lovely plain style. Britannia standard silver*. Each with a hand engraved monogram to the reverse. Weight 107 grams, 3.4 troy ounces. London 1712. Length 19.7 cms. Maker Lawrence Jones.

  • 1713 - 1744

     

    8715 Antique George I and II Silver Forks

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    A rare matched set of six Hanoverian pattern three pronged forks. Lovely early English style. Each with a matching hand engraved crest to the reverse. One spoon is by David Willaume I, George I reign and made from Britannia* standard silver. The others are from George II reign and made from sterling silver 925 grade. Total weight 372 grams, 11.9 troy ounces. Length 18.5-19 cms (some variation). Mixed dates 1713-1744. Mixed makers, some unidentified.
    Table silver of this date was stamped with “up the handle” silver marks which were punched on the thin central part of the handle and it is not unusual that these stamps are distorted or badly struck and difficult to read.

  • 1716

     

    8798 Antique George I Set of 3 Silver Table Spoons

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    Three early English silver spoons in the popular Hanoverian rat-tail pattern. Lovely plain style. Britannia standard silver*. Each with a hand engraved monogram to the reverse. Weight 182 grams, 5.8 troy ounces. London 1716. Length 19.5 cms. Maker probably IJ.

  • 1721

     

    7420 George I Set of 6 Silver Spoons

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    A composite set of early English silver spoons in the popular Hanover pattern. Lovely plain style. Britannia standard silver*. Each with a hand engraved crest to the reverse. Weight 446 grams, 14.3 troy ounces. London 1721. 4 spoons by Jane Lambe length 20.15 cms. 2 spoons by Paul Hanet length 19.75 cms. Hanet was one of the principal Huguenot spoon makers of his day.

  • 1728

    James Savage

    9958 George II Antique Silver Serving Spoon

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    A massive antique sterling silver spoon in the popular Hanover pattern. Very useful long handled serving spoon. To the reverse of the handle terminal there is an intricate hand engraved armorial. Weight 271 grams, 8.7 troy ounces. Length 39.5cm. Bowl 12 x 7cm. London 1728. Maker James Savage. Sterling silver..

  • Circa 1730

    Thomas David Mauger

    9116 Antique Jersey Silver Trefid Spoon

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    Channel Islands silver. A good English provincial silver spoon with a trefid terminal and rat-tail bowl. Dessert size. The spoon has a very attractive hand hammered finish. Weight 33 grams, 1 troy ounces. Length 18.5 cm. Bowl 6.75 x 4.25 cm. Makers mark ‘TM’ within a rectangle for Thomas Mauger. Circa 1730.

  • Circa 1730 - 1754

     

    10252 Set of 4 Antique Silver Trefid Spoons

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    An excellent quality harlequin set of antique silver serving spoons with shaped handle terminals known as “trefid” form. Bright gilt finish. All with a deeply chased pattern of scroll and foliate designs on a stipple engraved ground, and a hand engraved crest of a lion holding a rose. These spoons were expertly remodelled during the 19th century from plain Hanoverian pattern spoons and fitted into a presentation box. Total weight 216 grams, 6.9 troy ounces. Length 20cm. Bowl 7×4.6cm. Different makers. London c.1730-1754. Sterling silver.

  • 1735

    John Blunt II

    8205 George II Canon Handle Silver Serving Spoon

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    An exceptionally large antique sterling silver hash spoon or serving spoon with a long tubular handle and a large deep bowl. Engraved on the underside of the bowl with initials “ICA”. Spoons of this type were introduced in the late Charles II period and continued until the first part of the 18th century. Weight 214 grams, 6.8 troy ounces. Length 43.5 cms. Bowl 11.7 x 8.4 cms. London 1735. Maker John Blunt II or James Brooker.

  • 1740 - 1747

     

    9085 Antique George II Silver Forks

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    A rare matched set of six Hanoverian pattern three pronged forks. Sterling silver. Lovely early English style. Five with a hand engraved crest to the reverse. Total weight 359 grams, 11.5 troy ounces. Length 18.8–19 cms (some minor variation). 4 forks with mixed dates 1740-1747, 2 forks with unreadable dates. Mixed makers, some unidentified.
    Table silver of this date was stamped with “up the handle” silver marks which were punched on the thin central part of the handle and it is not unusual that these stamps are distorted or badly struck and difficult to read.

  • 1741 - 1757

     

    7624 George II Set of Silver Serving Spoons

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    A composite set of 11 early English sterling silver spoons in the popular Hanover pattern. Lovely plain style. Each with a hand engraved crest of a dog under a tree. Weight 678 grams, 21.8 troy ounces. Length 20 cms approx. Various dates and makers. 4 spoons by Samuel Robey 1741-1746. 3 spoons by Ebenezer Coker 1753-57. 4 spoons are unreadable.

  • 1755

    James Jones

    6224 Set of 8 Georgian Gilt Silver Teaspoons

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    A rare set of antique sterling silver teaspoons with shell bowls. The end of each handle is decorated with an unknown figure. Weight 118 grams, 3.7 troy ounces. Length 11.5 cms. All marked up the handle with maker’s mark and lion passant although not very clear. Probably James Jones (mark registered May 1755).

  • 1770

    Thomas Evans And George Smith III

    8800 Antique George III Silver Spoons

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    A set of 7 antique sterling silver spoons in the popular Hanoverian rat-tail pattern. Lovely plain style. Each with a hand engraved monogram to the reverse. Weight 288 grams, 9.2 troy ounces. London 1770. Length 16 cms. Maker Thomas Evans and George Smith.

  • 1771

    Carolus Benninck

    8331 Antique Belgian Silver Spoon

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    An early Belgian silver serving spoon of plain form from Brugge. Large size. Heavy gauge silver. Engraved initials to the end of the handle (reverse side). Weight 141 grams, 4.5 troy ounces. Length 29 cms. Fully marked on the back with Belgian silver stamps for Bruges 1771. Maker Carolus Benninck.

  • 1781

    George Smith III

    8566 Set of 6 Georgian Silver Dessert Spoons

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    A handsome set of antique sterling silver spoons on the popular Old English pattern. Lovely plain style. Each bears the hand engraved crest of a dragon. Weight 228 grams, 7.33 troy ounces. Length 7.5 cms. Bowl 6×3.5 cms. London 1781. Maker George Smith III.

  • 1785

    Hester Bateman

    10280 George III Antique Silver Teaspoons

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    A good set of 6 antique sterling silver spoons, in the Hanoverian pattern, by the sought after lady silversmith Hester Bateman. Total weight 59 grams, just under 2 troy ounces. Length 11.5cm. London 1785. Sterling silver. 18th century.

  • Circa 1790

    John Heyland

    8916 Antique Cork Silver Basting Spoon

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    A rare Irish provincial sterling silver serving spoon with a sought after Cork makers mark. Long length. Plain style with an initial in old fashioned script hand engraved to the handle. Weight 107 grams, 3.4 troy ounces. Length 30 cms. Bowl 9.2×5.5 cms. The bowl is solid and has no wear. Stamped 3 times with the makers mark only for John Heyland. Circa 1790.

  • 1795

    Thomas Wallis I

    9088 Antique Silver Forks

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    A set of Georgian sterling silver dinner forks for 12 people. In the traditional Old English and thread pattern. All with a hand engraved stag crest. Weight approx 800 grams, 25.7 troy ounces. Length 21cm. London 1795. Maker Thomas Wallis. These match the dinner forks in #9078 Georgian canteen of cutlery.

  • 1798

    Samuel Pemberton

    8663 Antique Silver Jockey Cap Caddy Spoon

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    A rare and collectable early silver caddy spoon in the form of a jockey cap. It has a ribbed design and a plain centre button with the initial “G” in old fashioned script. Weight 8 grams. Measures 5.5 x 3.8 cms. Birmingham 1798. No maker’s mark* but almost certainly made in Birmingham by Samuel Pemberton. For a similar example see ‘Caddy Spoons, an Illustrated Guide’ by John Norrie, plate 95c.

  • Circa 1800

    William Fitzgerald

    8402 Antique Irish Limerick Spoon

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    A rare Irish provincial sterling silver serving spoon with highly sought after Limerick marks. Excellent plain style with the pointed terminal, typical of the late 18th century. The end is hand engraved with with a crest and the motto “Pro Rege, Lege Grege” (Latin for ‘For King, Law and People’). Weight 98 grams, 3.1 troy ounces. Length 33 cms. Width 5 cms. Marked on the back of the handle with the makers mark WFG for William Fitzgerald (worked at Mary Street and 15, Patrick Street, Limerick 1794-1824) and “STERLING”.

  • Circa 1800

     

    8411 Pair of Antique Continental Silver Spoons

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    An excellent quality pair of antique silver spoons with figural ends depicting a classical lady culminating in a twisted handle possibly resembling a mermaids tail. The gilded bowl is attached with a fruit encrusted mount. These delightful spoons are very heavy and have a chunky feel. Traces of gilding all over. Weight 179 grams, 5.7 troy ounces. Length 18 cms. Marked on the back of the bowl with a hand mark. Probably German. Circa 1800.

  • Circa 1800

     

    7511 Antique Dutch Silver Caddy Spoon

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    A rare antique silver caddy spoon in the form of a fish with the tail prettily engraved with bright cutting. Lovely graceful lines. Weight 7 grams. Length 8 cms. With Dutch silver stamps. Circa 1800.

  • 1801

    Joseph Taylor

    8671 Georgian Silver Caddy Spoon

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    A rare antique sterling silver caddy spoon in the form of a leaf with a curled handle. Weight 7 grams. Length 7.5 cms. Width 3.25 cms. Birmingham 1801. Maker Joseph Taylor.

  • 1802

    Henry Plumpton

    8176 Georgian Silver Basting Spoon

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    A good quality antique sterling silver spoon in the popular Kings pattern. Excellent weight. With the crest of a bird over a crown. Weight 206 grams, 6.6 troy ounces. Length 30 cms. London 1802. Maker probably Henry Plumpton.

  • 1822

    Joseph Willmore

    8249 Antique Silver Caddy Spoon

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    A pretty little Victorian sterling silver caddy spoon with a shell shaped bowl and shaped shell handle. With a very pretty embossed flower design to the bowl. Weight 11 grams. Length 7.7 cms. Width 4.2 cms. Birmingham 1822. Maker Joseph Willmore.

  • 1836

     

    9547 Antique Silver Caddy Spoon

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    A pretty little antique silver caddy spoon with a square fluted bowl and shaped handle. Pretty bright cut engraved decoration. Weight 7 grams. Length 8 cms. Birmingham 1887. Maker James Collins.

  • Circa 1840

     

    8568 Large Antique Continental Silver Spoon

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    A giant antique silver serving spoon with a large bowl. Rat tail pattern. Weight 164 grams, 5.2 troy ounces. Length 36 cms. Bowl 13 x 7.7 cms. Marked on the reverse with continental silver marks “A” in a triangle and the silver grade “12”*. Probably German, circa 1840.

  • 1840

    William Eaton

    8769 Antique Silver Coffee Spoons

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    A useful set of 6 antique sterling silver spoons in the Fiddle, Thread and Shell pattern. Excellent antique style. Each has a hand engraved crest. Good weight. Total weight 167 grams, 5.3 troy ounces. Length 13.2 cms. London 1840. Maker William Eaton.

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