Stock No. 2070	George III Hanoverian shell-back tablespoon
	George III sterling silver Hanoverian shell-back tablespoon of very good weight. The bowl of the spoon is a very elegant oval shape. The shell on the back of the bowl is separated from the drop and is the more decorative, post 1740, asymmetric shell embellished with scrolls. The end of the back of the stem is engraved with contemporary initials - TSA in a design. Maker :- Henry Bayley

Condition :-Very good. The hallmarks are easily legible with the exception of the date mark which is slightly rubbed. The shell on the back of the bowl is excellent and extremely crisp.
Hallmarked :- London 1761		.
Size :- 8.3 inches (21.1cm) long
Weight :- 2.1ozt (67.5g)
The shell makes this spoon look so festive that it would make an ideal present. It would also be very useful for serving desserts etc. Although almost all flatware from the Georgian and Victorian eras were engraved with initials or crests, the Georgians were very adept at hiding the initials within a decorative, flowing design. Shell-back tablespoons are much more rare than shell-back teaspoons. Henry Bayley's mark is extremely similar to that of Hester Bateman. The main difference is that his mark has a stop between the H and the B and hers does not.

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