William IV sterling silver caddy spoon, Exeter, 1833, W. R. Sobey
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1833
This antique provincial tea caddy spoon was crafted in sterling silver by the silversmith William Rawlings Sobey in Exeter in 1833. The design features a distinctive shovel-form bowl with a decorative scalloped edge, paired with a short, flat fiddle-style handle.
The terminal end of the handle is personalized with an engraved script monogram, appearing to read as the initials JDL. The spoon measures 3.75 inches in length and 1.50 inches in width, with a total weight of 14 grams. The underside of the handle is marked with a comprehensive set of British hallmarks, identifying the maker as WRS for William Rawlings Sobey, the assay office as Exeter, the date letter 'r' for 1833, the lion passant for sterling silver purity, and the sovereign's head duty mark signifying the reign of King William IV.
The piece is accompanied by a black leatherette presentation box with a silk and velvet-lined interior, marked by Louis Wine Ltd. of Toronto, along with its original retail tag.
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
- Width
- 1.50 inches
- Length
- 3.75 inches
- Weight
- 14g
- Material
- Sterling silver
Technical characteristics
- Hallmarks
- Maker mark WRS, date letter r (1833), lion passant, Exeter castle mark, sovereign's head duty mark
Design
- Shape
- Shovel-form bowl with scalloped edge
- Handle
- Fiddle-style
- Engraving
- Script monogram JDL
Identification
- Source note
- Described from a single auction-house listing published on Invaluable (reproduced with Invaluable's permission). Details apply to that one example; other examples of the type may differ, and the listing is supplementary evidence, not authentication.
- Maker named in listing
- William Rawlings Sobey
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.