Irish Provincial Berry Spoon by Joseph Steed

Joseph Steed is described in Bennett's "Collecting Irish Silver" and Bowen and O'Brien's "Cork Silver & Gold" as a Cork retailer and the very rare "JSd" mark noted on this spoon almost certainly relates to him. He was probably not a practicing silversmith as the "STERLING" mark over-strikes what appears to be "TOLEKEN", John Toleken probably being the original maker. This table spoon is in the quintessential Irish flatware pattern, Irish Celtic Point with Bright-cut Star and bears an original crest to the terminal.The bowl has been attractively later decorated in the "berry-style" and the general condition is excellent with crisp engraving.