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tlineopen  British / Irish Sterling
tline3open  Folding Flatware

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Author Topic:   Folding Flatware
agphile

Posts: 798
Registered: Apr 2008

iconnumber posted 05-10-2016 01:59 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for agphile     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
A recent purchase prompts me to compare a few pieces of flatware that can be folded up or taken apart to make them more easily portable. In years gone by I may have shown some of them in other posts for one reason or another, so bear with me if this becomes too repetitive. However, I’ll start with the latest acquisition and, as it happens, the oldest item.



A gilt trefid folding spoon with engraved decoration. No marks but dating from circa 1680-1690. It has a contemporary crest: on a chapeau a lion statant gardant ducally crowned and collared. This is the crest used by the illegitimate sons of King Charles II. The date and quality of the spoon is consistent with such ownership but there were rather a lot of illegitimate sons by nearly as many mistresses and I cannot narrow down the identity of the first owner further.

For comparison, a slightly later collapsible spoon.

A cannon-handled spoon with engraved decoration, makers’ marks only – for George Cox on the bowl part and (possibly) William Gimber on the handle. Made in London, circa 1700. No inscription to offer any clue as to the original owner, but another piece of some quality.

Moving on a few years to a collapsible fork.

No marks, but probably from circa 1730-1740. It would once have been partnered with a matching knife and probably a folding spoon. In this case the top of the handle pulls off, allowing the tines to be stowed inside the handle when packed away. On some similar forks or knives from campaign sets the handle can contain other tools or containers for spices.

Finally, a piece I no longer own.

A historicist item of the late 19th century with Dutch pseudo marks and, I think, a French import mark. It would originally have had a spoon bowl as well that could be clipped over the tines. I let it go because it wasn’t complete and didn’t really fit in with what I was collecitng.

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Polly

Posts: 1971
Registered: Nov 2004

iconnumber posted 05-10-2016 10:41 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Polly     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
How utterly delightful!

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asheland

Posts: 935
Registered: Nov 2003

iconnumber posted 05-11-2016 09:36 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for asheland     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Indeed, great stuff! I like your latest addition!

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ahwt

Posts: 2377
Registered: Mar 2003

iconnumber posted 05-11-2016 11:33 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for ahwt     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Beautiful spoons. Some interesting tales if these spoons could talk.

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