Spoon, silver teaspoon by John Gale, London, 1750
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
ca. 1750
Spoons were made by specialist goldsmiths, but often supplied as part of a tea service. For example, a set made by Paul de Lamerie (1688-1751) in 1735 includes 12 tea spoons, a pair of sugar nippers, a strainer spoon, three canisters for black tea, green tea and sugar, and a cream jug. Very few full sets of matching spoons made before the 1740s are known today. Social Usage
Tea spoons were part of the ritual of the tea table. They could be used to signal to the hostess when the guest had drunk his fill. In 1782 the Prince of Broglie reported that 'I partook of the most excellent tea and I should be even now still drinking it, I believe, if the Ambassador had not charitably notified me at the twelfth cup that I must put my spoon across it when I wished to finish with this sort of warm water'.
Possibly made in London by John Gale (active from 1721)
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
- Material
- Silver
- Dimensions
- Width: 2.4 cm; Length: 12 cm (Dimensions checked: Measured; 11/11/1999 by RK)
Technical characteristics
- Maker recorded
- Gale, John
- Place recorded
- London
Identification
- Source note
- Transcribed from the Victoria and Albert Museum, London collection record for this single object (sentences kept verbatim apart from removed sale or rarity wording); how far it represents a wider collectible type has not been independently verified.
- Candidate id
- vam-O77373
- Museum object name
- Teaspoon
- Holding institution
- Victoria and Albert Museum, London
- Museum object number
- 1118-1902
- Museum system number
- O77373
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, maker and dating against a specialist reference; this entry documents one recorded example.