Early Sheffield Caddy Spoon, 1782

This is a very rare example of a pre-duty mark (1784) silver caddy spoon bearing Sheffield hallmarks. During the first decade or so of tea caddy spoon production, the vast majority of spoons were made in London with very few extant provincial examples. This piece shows an unusual production method for the period too in that the whole piece has been die-struck with the decorated border to the handle (simulating bright-cut engraving) being struck during the process and the handle has a curved profile. The spoon bears clear hallmarks for Sheffield 1782, but the maker's mark appears to have been over-struck by the lion passant mark and so is only partly visible. Condition is excellent and a most interesting spoon.