Pair of English George I table spoons in the Hanoverian pattern with rat tail bowls, London, 1716 - 1717, Britannia standard (95.84% pure silver), with indistinct maker's marks. Length: 8 inches. These early Georgian tablespoons have a pronounced midrib to the front of the handles and are engraved with owner's block shaded initials R*C over earlier erased initials. They are bottom marked on the stem with hallmarks that include the date letter for 1716-1717, a seated Britannia and Lion's head erased. Maker's marks are worn and are not legible. Condition is otherwise very good with the bowls retaining their original shapes. The Britannia standard of 95.84% pure silver replaced the sterling standard of 92.5% from 1697-1720 to protect the realm's coinage from being melted down for the making of objects.

Antique Silver
Antique Sterling Silver