Spoon, Wallis, Thomas (II), 1796-1797
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1796-1797
The records of the London goldsmiths' Garrard for 1760 include customer orders for spoons and forks which are described as 'turn'd back'. This is almost certainly a reference to pieces like this, in which the finial turns back or down so that they can be laid on the table with the bowl or tines uppermost (as we would set them on the table today). Turned back finials are unlike the French patterns which English goldsmiths imitated during the second half of the eighteenth century, and consequently this distinctive style has come to be known as 'Old English'.
Silver, old English pattern, double drop
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Dimensions
- Length: 21 cm; Weight: 65.7 g
- Materials and techniques
- Silver, forged
Technical characteristics
- Place recorded
- London
Design
- Marks and inscriptions
- London hallmarks for 1796-97; Mark of Thomas Wallis II
Identification
- Candidate id
- vam-O296882
- Museum object number
- 242-1903
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked single-object source. Wider type attribution and authenticity have not been independently verified.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: confirm the wider type and source attribution against specialist references.