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tline3open  Naturalistic Teaspoons

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Author Topic:   Naturalistic Teaspoons
agphile

Posts: 798
Registered: Apr 2008

iconnumber posted 03-27-2016 10:42 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for agphile     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I’ve just been playing with my spoons again and thought it might be mildly interesting to show a little group of them here. Most 18th century teaspoons were made in the same standard patterns as the rest of the flatware for the table. However, because teaspoons did not have to fit in the hand in the same way as a soup spoon or a dinner fork, there was scope for some makers to offer more exuberant designs, notably naturalistic pieces in the rococo taste.

I think it was our friend Hose_dk who described assemblages like this as sets of six spoons (one missing). Anyhow, here we have 5 teaspoons by Francis Harache, London (maker’s mark only). I think that spoons in this style could have been made anywhere between c.1740 and c.1760 so shan’t try to be more precise with a date.

Next, three single teaspoons.

From top to bottom:

Teaspoon by Isaac Cookson, Newcastle, c.1750
Teaspoon of unknown origin, marked with a W and a flower head punched twice.
Teaspoon, unmarked as is often the case. It is sometimes difficult to judge whether such spoons are original or later copies cast from a genuine original casting.

Next, for comparison, rococo and rococo revival examples.

Top: teaspoon by Charles Gordon, London, 1835.
Bottom: teaspoon marked PR, probably for Philip Roker II, London, c. 1740.

And finally, what I think is the most ridiculous teaspoon in my collection.

It is unmarked and I have to confess that I am not confident it is an original 18th century Harlequin piece rather than a copy cast from an original, but I don’t mind because either way it illustrates one of the extremes of fashion at the time.

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ahwt

Posts: 2377
Registered: Mar 2003

iconnumber posted 03-27-2016 09:43 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for ahwt     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks for posting pictures of your wonderful spoons. I love them all.
In an earlier post I think you referred to a spoon you own from the Albert Collection. Were many things sold from this collection?
I have always assumed everything went to a museum.
I bought the book when it came out as it had a swiss beaker similar to one I have. I don't have many things that appear in books like that and I glad I did as it shows an amazing collection.

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agphile

Posts: 798
Registered: Apr 2008

iconnumber posted 03-28-2016 06:07 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for agphile     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks, ahwt.

Like you, I had wondered what happened to the Albert Collection. It went on show at a London dealer’s in 2004 when the book was published and available for purchase but the silver was only for viewing. It then disappeared from public view, but over the years I noticed the occasional item or group of items with an Albert Collection provenance being offered for sale. When recently I bought my marrow scoop with that provenance, I asked the dealer about its history. According to him, the collection had been bought en bloc by a consortium of dealers. It was then presumably dispersed mainly via private sales. I don’t know whether any of the collection remains together as some sort of investment. My marrow scoop was being sold on commission for an individual who had bought it from one of the consortium.

[This message has been edited by agphile (edited 03-28-2016).]

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ahwt

Posts: 2377
Registered: Mar 2003

iconnumber posted 03-28-2016 11:12 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for ahwt     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks for the interesting information. The mysterious nature of this collection really adds to its desirability as it has a great story to tell. Glad you found your marrow spoon.

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seaduck

Posts: 351
Registered: Dec 2006

iconnumber posted 03-28-2016 09:15 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for seaduck     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I want to thank you for posting these. Every once in a while, I see something that completely expands my understanding of form and history. I never would have guessed that such things might date from the early-mid 18th century, as I think of this sort of free-form naturalism as a late 19th century thing. Never realized that those guys were doing a revival!

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asheland

Posts: 935
Registered: Nov 2003

iconnumber posted 03-29-2016 10:32 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for asheland     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Great thread as always!

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Polly

Posts: 1971
Registered: Nov 2004

iconnumber posted 04-03-2016 10:06 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Polly     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Those are wonderful.

It's so interesting to see how "naturalism" appears in so many different times and places, always distinctive.

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