silfren.com

DESCRIPTION

Very good Georgian silver rococo shell and scroll back Hanoverian pattern spoon with beautiful hallmarks and inscribed 1759. The 'Berry' decoration, bowl gilding and the rest of the engraved decoration are later, probably around 1860.

SILVERSMITH

Hester Bateman. This is her early mark that was once tentatively and erroneously ascribed by Jackson to the specialist pierced basket maker Henry Bailey.

DATE or HALLMARK

1758/59 date letter 'C' and the earliest example of Hester's work that I have ever seen.
If you are curious why your reference book does not cover this mark;
Our sources today are mainly taken from the 1863 publication of the work by William Chaffers, later enlarged by Wilfrid Cripps, Charles Jackson and Arthur Grimwade. Their primary reference sources were the registers at Goldsmiths Hall. From 1739 two simultaneous registers were kept, one for smallworkers and one for largeworkers. The distinction between these groups is blurred but their titles describe them well. The smallworkers book 1739-58 and the largeworkers book 1759-73 were both lost to fire in the early 19th century. These are the critical registers for the HB mark in question. Attributions for marks not found in the registers are found from other sources and conjecture. For example, there are many pieces still in their original collections and with their original receipts. Some silversmiths work is so distinctive that new marks can be deduced for known makers. Yes, some marks were not registered and other marks registered and similar to previously registered marks are not reproduced. The 1761 mark was considered to be her first mark because her husband (just a chainmaker) died the previous year. However, if this was the case then why is it not within a widow's lozenge as was the rule at the time? If it was a mark registered in her own right and before the death of John then it would not need to be within the lozenge. It is known that Hester began as a spoonmaker and so it is not surprising that all the early pieces with this mark are spoons. We are lucky that HB is an unusual combination of initials so few alternative silversmiths to consider. HB in script is unique. The tentative proposition by Jackson that the specialist pierced basket maker Henry Bayley took three years out to make Hanoverian spoons even though simultaneously in a successful basket making business holds no water.

ASSAY OFFICE

London

WEIGHT in GRAMS

57

LENGTH in INCHES

8+

SILVER STANDARD

.925 sterling silver

OVERALL CONDITION

An important piece in excellent condition albeit with some later decoration.
back Price £180 sold Item Number: M4683