Description

A massive antique sterling silver hash spoon with the long tubular handle and a large deep bowl with a rattail extension to the underside. This elegant form is known as a Canon handled spoon and can be used as a basting or stuffing spoon. Very useful size. To the reverse of the handle terminal there is an intricate hand engraved armorial.

Weight 234 grams, 7.5 troy oz.
Length 44.5cm. Bowl 10.4 x 7.5cm.
London 1697.
Maker probably William Fawdery.
Britannia standard silver.
17^th century.

Marks. Stamped to the reverse edge of the bowl with a full set of English silver hallmarks, the handle with the lions head erased mark.

Literature. Long handled serving spoons have been in use since c.1680 and the early spoons had tubular handles (Cannon handles). These are usually termed as basting or stuffing spoons. The earliest super large size is termed as a hash spoon, produced until about 1725, sizes typically ran between 14″ and 16″. Made in sections, the hollow handle was an invention to prevent burning the hands of the user. Eventually the hollow tube was proven to be impractical because it was easily bent or split.

Britannia Standard. In 1696, so extensive had become the melting and clipping of coinage that the silversmiths were forbidden to use the sterling standard for their wares, but had to use a new higher standard, 95.8 per cent with new hallmarks – “the figure of a woman commonly called Britannia (or Hibernia)” and the lion’s head erased (torn off at the neck) to replace the lion passant and the leopard’s head crowned. This continued until the old standard of 92.5 per cent was restored in 1720.