{"product_id":"antique-sterling-silver-serving-spoon-london-england","title":"Antique Sterling Silver Serving Spoon London England","description":"\u003cp style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eThis handsome 240 year old sterling silver serving spoon was made by London silversmith George Smith III in 1785. It's Hanoverian in style, created during the reign of King George III. The large, wide oval bowl of the spoon and the downcurved tip are typical of this era, as is the short rattail on the back of the spoon. The underside of the tip of the spoon has a short ridge (or \"pip\"). The rounded end of the handle is engraved with a swimming swan. We like to think this spoon came from The Swan Inn in London, built in the 14th century. ⁂\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eThe back of the spoon handle is fully hallmarked, with all of the marks visible (but not easy for us to photograph.) They read from left to right:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eDuty mark for King George III\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eDate code k for 1785\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eLion passant\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eCrowned leopard\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eMaker's mark for George Smith III\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eThe spoon is 9 inches long and weighs 70.87 grams (2.5 ounces). It's in very good condition, with a bit of rubbing to the underside of the very tip (it's not on the top, just the underside). \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eThis antique English solid silver spoon is a wonderful piece of British history and a great find for the collector.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003e⁂ A fun bit of history: The Swan Inn was a coaching inn, where coaches stopped on their way through London. Prisoners on their way to the gallows were often permitted to stop here for a last drink, giving rise to the phrases \"One for the road\" and \"On the wagon,\" which implied that the prisoner would never take another drink.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003e© \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/PrimpingYourHome.com\"\u003ePrimpingYourHome.com\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003ePYH 5722\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Primping Your Home Antiques \u0026 Vintage Home Decor","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47834008649915,"sku":"5722","price":225.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0721\/9101\/7147\/files\/5722-Graceful_silver_spoon_on_linen_napkin-Antique_STERLING_SILVER_Serving_Spoon_London_England_1785_George-Smith-1536_x_1024.jpg?v=1779995705","url":"https:\/\/www.primpingyourhome.com\/products\/antique-sterling-silver-serving-spoon-london-england","provider":"Primping Your Home Antiques \u0026 Vintage Home Decor","version":"1.0","type":"link"}