Stock No. 7411	William & Mary child's lace-back trefid spoon
Charming William & Mary sterling silver child's trefid spoon with lace-back decoration on the back of the bowl on either side of the rat-tail and also at the end of the stem in the front. London 1689. Maker SH. The full set of hall-marks are struck on the back of the stem. While the leopard's head and the lion passant are very clear indeed, the date mark and the maker's mark are now rather faint but still visible. Beyond the hall-marks and nearly at the end of the back of the stem, the initials ME have been very crudely scratched. It is almost as though the child who owned the spoon had grown impatient of waiting for the professional engraving of his name and had done it himself. Maker :- SH

Condition :-Excellent condition, considering its age with a very good patina. The definition of the lace-back design on the back of the spoon, as well as at the end of the front of the stem is very good indeed.. There is a small "spilley" in the front of the bowl, which probably happened while the spoon was being made. The lion passant and the leopard's head are very clearly struck on the back of the stem. The date mark and the maker's mark are somewhat faint but visible.
Hallmarked :- London 1689
Size :- 4.9 inches (12.5 cm) long
Weight :- 0.5 ozt (16.2 g)
Lace-back trefids are much more rare than the plain variety and a child's spoon is not often seen. The trefid is the earliest spoon of modern form. The first English trefid was recorded in 1662 but these spoons did not become common until the 1670s and were no longer made soon after 1700.

Telephone: +44(0)20 7431 0866 Mobile: +44(0)7836 660008 Fax: +44(0)20 7431 3224		Third Floor, Elliott House, 28a Devonshire Street, London, W1G 6PS