Teaspoon, Wallis, Thomas (II), London, 1800-1801
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1800-1801
Teaspoon, Wallis, Thomas (II), London, 1800-1801 is an object recorded by Victoria and Albert Museum, dated 1800-1801. The museum's brief description reads: Silver, London hallmarks for 1800-01, mark of Thomas Wallis II. Museum description: Teaspoon of silver, the handle engraved with the initial D. Handle turned down at the end, pointed bowl with a drop on the back The museum record gives material recorded as silver; measurements Length 5 in; Width 1 in; place associated: London; maker recorded: Wallis, Thomas (II). These details come from the holding museum's own record; how far this object represents a wider collectible type has not yet been independently verified.
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.
Historical context
A spoon is a type of household implement used (depending on the form and size) for serving, stirring, basting, eating etc., and consisting of a shallow bowl (usually oval, sometimes circular) and a handle (varying in length, curvature and style of decoration). From about the 1660s to the 1760s, the stem curved in the same direction of the bowl but thereafter, with the advent of spoons made in the 'Old English Pattern', the stem curved in the opposite direction of the bowl so that when a spoon is laid on a table both the bottom of the bowl and the terminal of the stem are in contact with the surface and the spoon is in a balanced position; hence on later spoons the decoration is on the front of the handle. The styles of spoons vary tremendously, especially in the shape of the stem, the decoration of the bowl and the form of the terminal. The patterns of some spoons have distinctive names based on the shape and style of the handle, e.g. fiddle pattern, Old English Pattern, Onslow Pattern and dozens of others, both old and modern.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- silver
- Dimensions
- Length 5 in; Width 1 in
Technical characteristics
- Technique
- Silver, forged and engraved
- Maker recorded
- Wallis, Thomas (II)
- Place recorded
- London
Design
- Inscriptions recorded
- London hallmarks for 1800-01; Mark of Thomas Wallis II; Engraved with the initial D
Identification
- Museum object name
- Teaspoon
- Museum object number
- 247-1903
- Museum system number
- O271739
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 materials, dimensions, maker and wider type against the holding institution and a specialist reference.