Early Silver Dessert Spoons

John Ladyman dessert spoons with engraved crest of a griffin

When did dessert spoons first make their appearance?  In the Queen Anne and George I section of his Christie's Pictorial History of English and American Silver, Michael Clayton tells us that "[s]maller-sized table silver for 'dessart' appeared at the same time, but it should be remarked that even at this early stage they were made in smaller numbers than table-sized pieces, and for this reason are consequently rare.  They were also liable to succumb to wear and tear rather more easily" (100).  I take "the same time" to mean about the turn of the 18th century, since this is the period referenced earlier in the paragraph.

Eric Delieb, in his Investing in Silver, illustrates a William III dessert-size trefid spoon by William Scarlett of 1700 which is 5 3/4" long (15).  In the Dreweatt's & Bloomsbury Auctions archives is a listing for the sale of a William III trefid dessert spoon by William Matthew I of 1697 which is 6" long.  The Postal Auction section of the November/December 2011 issue of The Finial, Lot 79, lists a pair of Queen Anne dognose dessert spoons by Thomas Sadler dating from 1707 being 6 1/2" long.  Earlier this year, Sotheby's sold a beautiful set of 12 silver-gilt dognose dessert spoons made by Pierre Platel engraved with the arms of Sir John Stonhouse, 3rd Baronet of Radley.  The spoons bear Platel's maker's mark only, and their length is not provided.

A cursory internet search did not turn up any early Irish silver dessert spoons.  Do any of you know of any out there?

A few years ago, I bought a set of six Queen Anne dognose dessert spoons dating to 1702 by John Ladyman.  The spoons are 6 1/4" long and each is engraved with a wonderful crest of a griffin.  Confirming Mr. Clayton's remark, my set of dessert spoons has succumbed to wear and tear, with the hallmarks and the rattails being fairly worn.

Set of six dessert spoons, John Ladyman, London, 1702

Close-up of hallmarks on Ladyman dessert spoon

My spoons have seen their fair share of 'dessart,' so I'd like to think I've done Mr. Ladyman proud. And, I'm happy to find that, in Mr. Clayton's opinion at least, I own a set of rare spoons.

Spoon: John Ladyman, 1702.  Ice cream: Ben & Jerry's Half Baked.

Sources:
Bexfield, Daniel, ed. The Finial 22/02 (Nov/Dec 2011): 25. Web. 12 Oct. 2014.
Clayton, Michael. Christie's Pictorial History of English and American Silver.
       Oxford: Phaidon Christie's Limited, 1985. Print.
Delieb, Eric. Investing in Silver. New York: Clarkson N. Potter Inc., 1967. Print.