Set of 4 Silver Table Spoons, 1709 by Pierre Platel

With an average weight in excess of 80 grams each, these are a set of four outstanding quality silver table spoons - but what would you expect from Pierre Platel, the master of Paul de Lamerie?

In addition, these Queen Anne table spoons are very early examples of Hanoverian Rattail pattern (rattail spoons generally date from George I period) and so would have been at the cutting-edge of high fashion at the time they were made. The spoons bear Britannia Standard hallmarks, however they are mostly rubbed with just two visible date letters but importantly the four examples of the highly cherished "PL" maker's mark of Pierrre Platel (see Grimwade 2200) are identifiable. The worn marks account for the extremely competitive price where all four spoons can be bought for the price of one with better hallmarks (that's assuming you could find one, as spoons by Platel are exceedingly rare).

The spoons have a very hefty, pleasing weight in the hand and bear just a simple letter "B" to the reverse terminals. They have an excellent patina and good thick bowl tips.

Pierre Platel was a Huguenot refugee who entered his first mark at Goldsmiths Hall in 1699. His work is amongst the most highly prized of all British silver. Paul de Lamerie was apprenticed to him in 1703 and so would have been present in the workshop when these spoons were made. If the high quality of these spoons are typical of Platel's output, it is no surprise that de Lamerie was inspired to become England's greatest silversmith of all time.

A very fine set of early 18th century silver table spoons.