York Caddy Spoon, 1801

York-made silver tea caddy spoons are relatively scarce and dating from circa 1801 this is a particularly early example. The spoon was made in fiddle pattern and bears a mid-18th century style of betrothal engraving where "C" is the newly-wed's surname initial and their first names both began with "A". The spoon is in excellent condition and bears a crisp set of hallmarks with the diagnostic flat based lion passant mark, triple cusped duty mark and the distinctive combination of letters in the maker's mark clearly identifying York as the city of origin.

The York-based silversmithing partnership of Hampston, Prince & Cattles were working for just a few years either side of 1800. According to Martin Gubbins in "York Silver Assay Office & Silversmiths 1776 to 1858", the "HP" over "&C" mark, as shown on this spoon, was only used between 1801 and 1804. In the absence of a date letter, this spoon can therefore be accurately dated to this three year period.