Artificer Guild Honey Spoon, 1926

This rare silver spoon is modelled in the design most synonymous with the Artificer's Guild, but has the additional bonus of a hook to the reverse of the stem for hanging it from a honey or jam pot. The hexagonal stem of the spoon is applied with delicate bead and rope twist wire seemingly tied around the top and bottom of the shaft. The pear-shaped bowl with rattail extension from the stem retains its original soft spot-hammered finish in true arts and crafts style. Together with its mitred finial, the overall design of this spoon is based on medieval forms, circa 1400.

The Artificer's Guild was first set up in 1901 and despite financially problematic early years proved to be one of the few commercially successful craft guilds. Although initially lead by Nelson Dawson, Edward Spencer was the most influential designer during the golden age of the guild and this spoon dates from that period.