MOTE SPOON (“Skimmer Spoon”), George II
MOTE SPOON (“Skimmer Spoon”), George II, Sterling, circa 1750-60, London, with sixteen crosslets, floral sprigs
Maker mark, an ANIMAL (standing quadriped, with tail waving) over “J (PELLET & partial "T").
The distinctive animal and letters visible identify it as the
mark entered 1736 by THOMAS JACKSON, I,
“son of Joseph Jackson late of Leeds in the County of York gentleman deceased, apprenticed to William Soame of the Mercers' Company...Noble Street”...later working on Paternoster Row, London.
(Ref : Grimwade, A. LONDON GOLDSMITHS 1697-1837, 3rd ed, 1990, London, Faber & Faber)
+ hallmark : Lion Passant
Length : 5—9/16 ”
Weight : .2875 troy ounce
Condition : fine
# 8038 ................................. SOLD
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Silver "Tea Strainer" spoon, also called "Silver Mote Spoon" or "Mote Strainer"
Collectors today know them as Mote Spoons, but 18th century records call them "Tea Strainers"
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The Tea Strainer, or Mote Spoon, was a fashionable accessory for serving tea
newly introduced from China, tea was rare & costly in the West. Mote spoons were only made for about a hundred years, late 1600's to the 1770's
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Maker mark & London Sterling mark
Maker mark, an ANIMAL (standing quadriped, with tail waving) over “J (PELLET & partial "T").
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arrowhead tip of handle
Some say the slender pointed handle was designed for unclogging tea leaves from the spout of the teapot
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Cut-work of 16 diagonal crosses, floral & leaf sprigs, in "c" and "s" curves
The entire bowl measures only 1-5/8 x 3/4"
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Bowl interior, larger than life size
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5—9/16 ” long (14cm)
A little over 5-1/2", it is longer than tea spoons of its time, but similar in length to later teaspoons.
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Double-Drop construction on back of bowl
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S O L D
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