Description
Irish Sterling Silver Serving Spoon
Irish sterling silver serving spoon Celtic Point in excellent order (very very minor bruise on bowl), hallmarked Dublin 1818.
Hallmarks are perfectly clear with the exception of the makers mark which is partialy rubbed.
Measures 223mm in length.
| DATE | 1818 |
| MAKER or SPONSOR MARK | Unknown, makers mark rubbed |
| ASSAY OFFICE | Dublin |
| WEIGHT (Grammes) | 48 |
| WEIGHT (Troy) | 1.54 |
| REF:- | 155H |
In the days before mass production items made from metal were regarded as treasures. Eating utensils were often made from wood and metal was reserved for more robust uses. However, in the colonial period a silver spoon became an incredibly practical item to own and had a multitude of uses.
Spoons are among the oldest eating utensils although there are many different types of spoon throughout the world. Spoons preceded knives and forks and were the main utensil at mealtimes.
17th Century
In the 17th century, people who could afford them, had their own spoons and would bring them to a meal wherever that was being eaten. Furthermore, the influx of wealth from the colonies led to the expansion of the middle classes and they began to realise that they too could own silver spoons.
Silver spoons were helpful in avoiding poisons as they would tarnish on contact with sulphur, arsenic, and other dangerous compounds. This was very useful in a time when testing for poison wasn’t always possible and food hygiene was unheard of.
19th Century
It wasn’t until the 19th century that entire sets of silverware in sterling silver became the status symbols they can now be regarded as and serving spoons were a vital part of the set.
