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James II Silver Trefid Spoon - First Fifteen London Spoonmakers 1580-1697
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Reference: S1509
Period: James II
Year: 1685
Silversmith: Thomas Allen
Place: London
Price: $ 350.00
Weight: 44 grams
Dimensions: 19.3 cm
Condition: Excellent. Tiny nick in edge of bowl (less than 1 mm).
Description: An early James II silver trefid spoon, by one of the "First Fifteen" London spoonmakers (1580-1697), as identified by Tim Kent in his book "London Silver Spoonmakers". The trefid spoon has a ribbed rat-tail, and is prick engraved "M.P over C.G", indicating this spoon celebrated a marriage. The engraving is delightful, and is contemporary. The spoon is in lovely condition, well preserved given it's age. The makers mark is superb, very clearly struck and perfectly preserved, it could not be better - easily as good as the example illustrated by Kent (pg 36), taken from the original copper plate preserved by the Goldsmiths Hall. This is Thomas Allens' pre 1697 mark. It has 3 pellets above, and a rose below, all clearly visible. The other hallmarks are visible but worn, the crowned leopards head for London, and date letter h for 1685. The lion passant is just visible, but very worn. Thomas Allen was apprenticed to John King (another of the First Fifteen) in 1668, and freed in 1675 (Grimwade pg 422). He was a specialist spoonmaker, and his mark is known on numerous spoons of the period (Kent, London Spoonmakers, pg 36). He worked from Gutter Lane, and his son (also Thomas) is thought to have become sub-ordinate goldsmith to the King (1723-45, Grimwade).
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Silver Trefid Spoon - Thomas Allen
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Silver Trefid Spoon - Back
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Ribbed rattail
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Original initials and date letter 1685
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Thomas Allen makers mark
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Scale
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Date letter h for 1685
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Close up makers mark Thomas Allen
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Trefid spoon hallmarks 2
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