An Irish provincial hook end silver ladle, Joseph

An Irish provincial hook end silver ladle, Joseph Johns, Limerick circa 1760, with fluted scalloped bowl, foliate engraved stem and crest, 35cm long, approximately 204gm/Note: Joseph Johns is described in A Celebration of Limerick Silver, John Bowen & Conor O'Brien as Limerick's ''most accomplished, prolific and arguably most successful silversmith'' . He eventually became Mayor of Limerick in 1773 as well as holding other official positions. The hook end and large shell bowl are typical of Limerick ladles at this time, a similar example by Johns is in A Celebration of Limerick Silver p. 128 (plate 121a, exhibit 5.27), another by George Moore was sold at Lawrence's 11/10/2016, Lot 96 and another by Samuel Johns sold at Fonsie Mealy, 08/03/16, Lot 39. The crest appears to be a Demi-Lion Rampant Regardant, Between The Paws A Boar's Head Couped which are the arms of the Barons Carbery (Evans-Freke), the title was created in 1715 and the family were based in County Limerick/