An early Charles II silver trefid spoon. John King, London, 1664. ...
An early Charles II silver trefid spoon.
John King,
London, 1664.
The oval bowl with reeded rat tail to the reverse and the stem with visible workman's guidelines, engraved to the reverse of terminal with the arms of the Pyrat or Pyray family, 19.2cm long, approx. weight 2.2ozt (68.7g)
Arms: The arms are possibly those of Pyrat (or Pyrry/ Pyrrye) of Pyray, Dorset (and later near Warminster, in Wiltshire), impaling another. See ‘English and Scottish Silver Spoons, ‘Mediaeval to Late Stuart’ by Commander G.E.P. How, London, 1953, vol.1, pp. 140-141 and Silver Spoons of Britain 1200-1710 by David J.E. Constable, pg. 627. The husband's arms are: argent on a fess cotised sable between three martlets of the last as many mullets or. The wife's arms are: three falcons. These could relate to a number of families including: Atherton, Hawksworth, Hardoc, Heydoc, Burstowe, Addurton, Holyworth and others.
Provenance: An Important Private Collection of Early Spoons.
- Purchased by the vendor from Reginald Davis, Oxford in 2004
- Ex Bibby Collection
- This spoon is illustrated in Silver Spoons of Britain 1200-1710 by David J.E. Constable (Vol. 2), pp. 624-627
Footnote:
This spoon is one of the earliest known trefid spoons and as such is an important example of its kind. It appears to be one of a larger set (a pair sold at Sworders in 2016 and one is illustrated in English and Scottish Silver Spoons, ‘Mediaeval to Late Stuart’ by Commander G.E.P. How, London 1953, vol.1, pp. 140-141).
Further references:
- Sworder's, 30th November, 2016 (Lot 202): https://www.sworder.co.uk/auction/lot/lot-202---a-pair-of-early-charles-ii-silver-trefid-spoons/?lot=180142&sd=1
- ‘English and Scottish Silver Spoons, ‘Mediaeval to Late Stuart’ by Commander G.E.P. How, London 1953, vol.1, pp. 140-141. This publication includes the following information on the spoon that it illustrates: '(Bibby Collection). The Trefid spoon here illustrated (one of a pair) is the earliest London Trefid of which I have note. As mentioned on page 119, all the available evidence goes to prove that the type was introduced at the Restoration of the Monarchy in this, its fully-developed form. Note the oval bowl with level edges (the slight rise at the tip of this spoon is due to use); the way the bowl is set just below the level of the stem; and the fully-developed decorative rat-tail down the back of the bowl. Note also the upturned end of the Trefid top. Although provincially-made Trefids show many variations in form, and many have bowls of an earlier form without a rat-tail and with the Town Mark punched in the bowl, similar variations on London spoons of normal size are almost non-existent (IV.II.pl.9. Vol.II). On this spoon, as on many Trefid spoons which are in almost mint condition, the workman’s guide lines can still be seen parallel to and near the edges of the stem...' (N.B. These workman's guide lines on the stem can also be seen on the spoon offered by Roseberys).
An early Charles II silver trefid spoon.
John King,
London, 1664.
The oval bowl with reeded rat tail to the reverse and the stem with visible workman's guidelines, engraved to the reverse of terminal with the arms of the Pyrat or Pyray family, 19.2cm long, approx. weight 2.2ozt (68.7g)
Arms: The arms are possibly those of Pyrat (or Pyrry/ Pyrrye) of Pyray, Dorset (and later near Warminster, in Wiltshire), impaling another. See ‘English and Scottish Silver Spoons, ‘Mediaeval to Late Stuart’ by Commander G.E.P. How, London, 1953, vol.1, pp. 140-141 and Silver Spoons of Britain 1200-1710 by David J.E. Constable, pg. 627. The husband's arms are: argent on a fess cotised sable between three martlets of the last as many mullets or. The wife's arms are: three falcons. These could relate to a number of families including: Atherton, Hawksworth, Hardoc, Heydoc, Burstowe, Addurton, Holyworth and others.
Provenance: An Important Private Collection of Early Spoons.
- Purchased by the vendor from Reginald Davis, Oxford in 2004
- Ex Bibby Collection
- This spoon is illustrated in Silver Spoons of Britain 1200-1710 by David J.E. Constable (Vol. 2), pp. 624-627
Footnote:
This spoon is one of the earliest known trefid spoons and as such is an important example of its kind. It appears to be one of a larger set (a pair sold at Sworders in 2016 and one is illustrated in English and Scottish Silver Spoons, ‘Mediaeval to Late Stuart’ by Commander G.E.P. How, London 1953, vol.1, pp. 140-141).
Further references:
- Sworder's, 30th November, 2016 (Lot 202): https://www.sworder.co.uk/auction/lot/lot-202---a-pair-of-early-charles-ii-silver-trefid-spoons/?lot=180142&sd=1
- ‘English and Scottish Silver Spoons, ‘Mediaeval to Late Stuart’ by Commander G.E.P. How, London 1953, vol.1, pp. 140-141. This publication includes the following information on the spoon that it illustrates: '(Bibby Collection). The Trefid spoon here illustrated (one of a pair) is the earliest London Trefid of which I have note. As mentioned on page 119, all the available evidence goes to prove that the type was introduced at the Restoration of the Monarchy in this, its fully-developed form. Note the oval bowl with level edges (the slight rise at the tip of this spoon is due to use); the way the bowl is set just below the level of the stem; and the fully-developed decorative rat-tail down the back of the bowl. Note also the upturned end of the Trefid top. Although provincially-made Trefids show many variations in form, and many have bowls of an earlier form without a rat-tail and with the Town Mark punched in the bowl, similar variations on London spoons of normal size are almost non-existent (IV.II.pl.9. Vol.II). On this spoon, as on many Trefid spoons which are in almost mint condition, the workman’s guide lines can still be seen parallel to and near the edges of the stem...' (N.B. These workman's guide lines on the stem can also be seen on the spoon offered by Roseberys).
