1770-1780 Walter Tweedie English Georgian "Duty Dodger" Sterling Silver Tablespoon (60 g)

$350.00
A fascinating and increasingly scarce example of late Georgian English silver, this handsome spoon bears four impressions of the maker's mark WT, a punch widely attributed to Walter Tweedie, one of the better-known makers associated with England's so-called "duty dodger" silver. Weighing a substantial 62 grams and measuring approximately 7¾ inches in length, the spoon is beautifully made from heavy gauge silver in the traditional Hanoverian pattern, complete with an upturned terminal and a well-defined rattail to the reverse of the bowl. The repeated maker's mark is one of the most intriguing aspects of the piece. During the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, some English silversmiths produced silver marked only with their maker's punch, omitting the full complement of official hallmarks required by the London Assay Office. By avoiding formal assay, these makers could reduce the cost of production and circumvent duties levied on silver wares. Collectors have long referred to these pieces as "duty dodgers," and they represent a distinctive and well-documented chapter in the history of English silver. The handle is engraved with an attractive contemporary family crest depicting a wolf's or bear's head erased above the initials E.W. / S.W., an appealing period personalization that adds to the spoon's historical character. Whether appreciated as an example of Georgian craftsmanship, an unusual chapter in English hallmarking history, or an addition to a collection of pseudo-hallmarked silver, this is an uncommon and highly collectible piece. Check out some of my other sterling silver flatware here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/DCSILVERSHOP?ref=search_shop_redirect§ion_id=7399760 Or just browse around the shop! https://www.etsy.com/shop/DCSILVERSHOP
A fascinating and increasingly scarce example of late Georgian English silver, this handsome spoon bears four impressions of the maker's mark WT, a punch widely attributed to Walter Tweedie, one of the better-known makers associated with England's so-called "duty dodger" silver. Weighing a substantial 62 grams and measuring approximately 7¾ inches in length, the spoon is beautifully made from heavy gauge silver in the traditional Hanoverian pattern, complete with an upturned terminal and a well-defined rattail to the reverse of the bowl. The repeated maker's mark is one of the most intriguing aspects of the piece. During the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, some English silversmiths produced silver marked only with their maker's punch, omitting the full complement of official hallmarks required by the London Assay Office. By avoiding formal assay, these makers could reduce the cost of production and circumvent duties levied on silver wares. Collectors have long referred to these pieces as "duty dodgers," and they represent a distinctive and well-documented chapter in the history of English silver. The handle is engraved with an attractive contemporary family crest depicting a wolf's or bear's head erased above the initials E.W. / S.W., an appealing period personalization that adds to the spoon's historical character. Whether appreciated as an example of Georgian craftsmanship, an unusual chapter in English hallmarking history, or an addition to a collection of pseudo-hallmarked silver, this is an uncommon and highly collectible piece. Check out some of my other sterling silver flatware here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/DCSILVERSHOP?ref=search_shop_redirect§ion_id=7399760 Or just browse around the shop! https://www.etsy.com/shop/DCSILVERSHOP