90-piece Fiddle & Thread Pattern Canteen, London 1803/06 by Eley & Fearn
We are offering for sale a very rare opportunity to purchase a straight Georgian period Fiddle & Thread Pattern canteen with no fewer than eighteen place settings. All the pieces in this canteen were made by the same maker in either 1803 or 1806. Each piece is in superb original condition and bear the same engraved crest to the underside only.
Fiddle & Thread Pattern
The fiddle shape was the primary form of flatware in 19th Century Britain and Fiddle & Thread Pattern was one of the most popular variants. The restrained decoration of Fiddle & Thread Pattern treads the fine line between elegant/simple and ornate/decorative. The pattern is double struck (i.e. on the front and reverse sides of each item).
Fiddle & Thread did not become popular in England until the Regency period (circa 1810) therefore this service is especially early and was obviously commissioned by an important and wealthy family at the sharp end of fashion.
The Maker
Each piece was made by the premier silver flatware making specialists - William Eley & William Fearn and bear their partnership mark alongside the London hallmarks. Eley & Fearn were part of the most important spoon making dynasty in Georgian England with a pedigree going back to the middle of the 18th Century. Please see this link for more information.
The Service
This is a straight service with five pieces for up to eighteen place settings. Additional items from the original service are available as optional extras - see below. The canteen is offered loose, but cutlery rolls are available on request. The quality of this canteen is exceptional. Each piece has been made with a good gauge of silver and has a good solid feel in the hand.
All items bear the same engraved crest of "a hand holding an olive branch" to the reverse side of the terminal. The location of this crest is especially unusual for the spoons, as they were generally engraved to the fronts. Being to the reverse side gives the owner the benefit of a historical social context without being too obvious (i.e. none show engravings when placed upwards on the table).
Components and Measurements
This 90-piece service consists of the following:
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18 off table/soup spoons; length: 8.3" (211mm); weight: 1538 grams (51 tr. oz.);
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18 off table/dinner forks; length: 7.9" (200mm); weight: 1582 grams (49.5 tr. oz.);
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18 off dessert or starter forks; length: 6.6" (168mm); weight: 812 grams (26 tr. oz.);
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18 off dessert spoons; length: 6.75" (172mm); weight: 869 grams (28 tr. oz.);
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18 off teaspoons; length: 5.7" (145mm); weight: 555 grams (18 tr. oz.);
The total weight of silver is 5356grams (172.75 troy ounces)
Optional Extras
We are pleased to be able to offer further place settings for all components (except teaspoons) that are an exact match to this set (same date, maker and crest). They are all available on request to augment the size of the canteen. Plus, we also have the following matching serving items
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6 off Sauce Ladles; length: 6.9" (175mm); weight: 430 grams; (13.8 tr. oz.) - SOLD
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Pair Basting Spoons; length: 11" (280mm); 225 grams (9.5 tr. oz.). - SOLD
Knives are available as follows:
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Victorian period with Thread silver handles;
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New silver handled knives in Thread or Fiddle & Thread patterns;
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Early 20th Century "Bone" handled
Further details can be provided on request.
Condition
Excellent original condition with full length tines and unworn spoon bowls. The thread edge remains crisp throughout. Some of the engraved crests are tired from table contact (especially the dessert forks and teaspoons). The condition of this service is especially pleasing, as it is very rare to find a service over 200 years old without some obvious condition issues.
Presentation
This service is offered loose (i.e. as it comes), however, anti-tarnish cutlery rolls are available on request.
As with all the canteens available from our web-site, we are happy to send a sample place setting for approval, on receipt of a fully refundable surety payment, prior to purchasing this canteen.
| Ref.: KK/4175 | Price: SOLD |
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Above: The front side of a sample of each item Below: Reverse terminals of each piece showing the crest and hallmarks (note worn crest on dessert fork (far right) and teaspoon (bottom) |
Above: The reverse side of a sample of each item Below: Close up of the hallmarks for London 1803 by William Eley & William Fearn (WE/WF) together with the engraved crest |
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Above: 36 forks Below: Reverse sides of every piece |
Above: 54 spoons Below: Optional extras - up to six sauce ladles and a pair of basting spoons |
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