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Item: Table Spoon Description: Dog Nose Hallmark: Exeter 1701 by Peter Rowe Dimensions: 200mm; 46g Comments: An excellent example of both spoon and hallmarks for the very first year of the Exeter date letter cycles following the establishment of the Exeter Assay Office in 1701. The shape of the punch used for the date letter contradicts Jacksons where he states that only the date letter "B" was found in an ornamental or shaped escutcheon - this letter "A" is clearly within such a punch. The spoon itself is an early example of a dog nose spoon and still retains the influence of the trefid pattern with it's bulbous terminal. The bowl retains it's original unworn shape and has a beaded rattail (worn from table contact) to the reverse side. A further point of interest for this spoon is the presence of the dot pricked betrothal initials to the reverse terminal. The initials are dated for 1652 and almost certainly commemorate a Golden Wedding anniversary in 1702 (n.b. the year letter "A" ran from November 1701 to May 1702). A 50 year anniversary must surely have been a rarity at this time and well worthy of celebration.
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