Limerick Table Spoon by John Purcell
Sold
Table Spoon - Fiddle Pattern - Limerick circa 1810 by John Purcell - 23.5cm long; 75g - MB/4005
Dublin made silver is common, Cork silver is scarce and Limerick silver is rare. This fiddle pattern table spoon was made in Limerick in the early years of the 19th century and bears the marks Fleur-de-lys, IP, Fleur-de-lys/IP, Fleur-de-lys/IP. The IP stands for John Purcell who was working in Limerick between1787 and 1813. The fiddle pattern style dating the spoon towards the end of his career.
The fleur-de-lys mark seems to have been a mark peculiar to Limerick silver in the last quarter of the 18th and first quarter of the 19th C. In this case, the final two marks appear to over-strike the IP maker’s mark. The spoon is in fine condition with a crest to the front and an unworn bowl.
