SPOON

An incomplete cast lead-tin alloy (pewter) spoon dating to the mid-17th century. The fragment comprises part of the bowl and the beginning of the stem, the rest has been lost along with the knop. The bowl is a round or large oval form with a semi-circular top at the junction with the stem, Homer (1975:46) type ' c' or 'd'. The edge of the bowl is damaged with old breaks around the sides and the front and back surfaces are worn and pitted. Only a small section of the stem remains, it is flat and rectangular in cross section and ends in an old break. On the back of the spoon, there is a moulded triangular section extending from the handle a short way, the peg which strenghens the junction of bowl and handle. This peg tended to become longer after the restoration suggesting this piece is pre-1675. The peg is decorated with a raised hammer or T, presumably a makers mark. There are also two makers mark on the front of the bowl, near the handle. The details of these are unclear, one possibly includes a lozenge, the other a rose. The spoon now measures 65.9mm long, 43.8mm wide and 5.8mm thick at the peg. It weighs 24.78g.

The combination of the flat stem, almost circular bowl and short peg suggests a mid-17th century date c.1640-1680.