A SET OF SIX WEST COUNTRY QUEEN ANNE SILVER SPOONS, JOHN MURCH I OF PLYMOUTH, EXETER, 1707
Dog Nose pattern with plain rat-tail heels, later gilded, fully Britannia standard hallmarked, in a Victorian leather fitted case with gilt initials H.J.T. for Herbert James Torr, interior with gilt stamp for Elkington & Co., Liverpool, spoons 20cm long, 348g Provenance: Herbert James Torr JP (1864-1935), son of John Torr, MP for Liverpool from 1872 until his death in 1880; thence by family descent to the vendor. It is rare to find a set of six English Provincial spoons at this date, especially so with full marks. Apparently, following the introduction of the higher Britannia standard in 1696, Murch made his own Britannia marks, to suggest compliance, but was fined by the London Goldsmith's Company in 1699 for selling substandard wares. Working in Plymouth at the time these spoons were produced, one presumes John Murch submitted them for assay at Exeter at the correct standard. For further information on the silversmith see Miles Harrison, 'Exeter & West Country Silver 1700-1900', published by Berforts Group, 2014, p.164. The well-known firm of manufacturing silversmiths, Elkington & Co., as well as retailing their own wares, also on occasion dealt in antique silver. Given that they first opened retail premises in Liverpool in 1869 (Culme, Vol.I, p.141) it is likely this set of spoons were 're-conditioned' and gilded by Elkington prior to retail there sometime in the 1870s to either Herbert or John Torr.Dog Nose pattern with plain rat-tail heels, later gilded, fully Britannia standard hallmarked, in a Victorian leather fitted case with gilt initials H.J.T. for Herbert James Torr, interior with gilt stamp for Elkington & Co., Liverpool, spoons 20cm long, 348g Provenance: Herbert James Torr JP (1864-1935), son of John Torr, MP for Liverpool from 1872 until his death in 1880; thence by family descent to the vendor. It is rare to find a set of six English Provincial spoons at this date, especially so with full marks. Apparently, following the introduction of the higher Britannia standard in 1696, Murch made his own Britannia marks, to suggest compliance, but was fined by the London Goldsmith's Company in 1699 for selling substandard wares. Working in Plymouth at the time these spoons were produced, one presumes John Murch submitted them for assay at Exeter at the correct standard. For further information on the silversmith see Miles Harrison, 'Exeter & West Country Silver 1700-1900', published by Berforts Group, 2014, p.164. The well-known firm of manufacturing silversmiths, Elkington & Co., as well as retailing their own wares, also on occasion dealt in antique silver. Given that they first opened retail premises in Liverpool in 1869 (Culme, Vol.I, p.141) it is likely this set of spoons were 're-conditioned' and gilded by Elkington prior to retail there sometime in the 1870s to either Herbert or John Torr.
There is no condition report for this lot.
Bid on this lot
Dog Nose pattern with plain rat-tail heels, later gilded, fully Britannia standard hallmarked, in a Victorian leather fitted case with gilt initials H.J.T. for Herbert James Torr, interior with gilt stamp for Elkington & Co., Liverpool, spoons 20cm long, 348g Provenance: Herbert James Torr JP (1864-1935), son of John Torr, MP for Liverpool from 1872 until his death in 1880; thence by family descent to the vendor. It is rare to find a set of six English Provincial spoons at this date, especially so with full marks. Apparently, following the introduction of the higher Britannia standard in 1696, Murch made his own Britannia marks, to suggest compliance, but was fined by the London Goldsmith's Company in 1699 for selling substandard wares. Working in Plymouth at the time these spoons were produced, one presumes John Murch submitted them for assay at Exeter at the correct standard. For further information on the silversmith see Miles Harrison, 'Exeter & West Country Silver 1700-1900', published by Berforts Group, 2014, p.164. The well-known firm of manufacturing silversmiths, Elkington & Co., as well as retailing their own wares, also on occasion dealt in antique silver. Given that they first opened retail premises in Liverpool in 1869 (Culme, Vol.I, p.141) it is likely this set of spoons were 're-conditioned' and gilded by Elkington prior to retail there sometime in the 1870s to either Herbert or John Torr.Dog Nose pattern with plain rat-tail heels, later gilded, fully Britannia standard hallmarked, in a Victorian leather fitted case with gilt initials H.J.T. for Herbert James Torr, interior with gilt stamp for Elkington & Co., Liverpool, spoons 20cm long, 348g Provenance: Herbert James Torr JP (1864-1935), son of John Torr, MP for Liverpool from 1872 until his death in 1880; thence by family descent to the vendor. It is rare to find a set of six English Provincial spoons at this date, especially so with full marks. Apparently, following the introduction of the higher Britannia standard in 1696, Murch made his own Britannia marks, to suggest compliance, but was fined by the London Goldsmith's Company in 1699 for selling substandard wares. Working in Plymouth at the time these spoons were produced, one presumes John Murch submitted them for assay at Exeter at the correct standard. For further information on the silversmith see Miles Harrison, 'Exeter & West Country Silver 1700-1900', published by Berforts Group, 2014, p.164. The well-known firm of manufacturing silversmiths, Elkington & Co., as well as retailing their own wares, also on occasion dealt in antique silver. Given that they first opened retail premises in Liverpool in 1869 (Culme, Vol.I, p.141) it is likely this set of spoons were 're-conditioned' and gilded by Elkington prior to retail there sometime in the 1870s to either Herbert or John Torr.
There is no condition report for this lot.
