About a year ago, I purchased this Britannia-standard teaspoon:
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| Britannia-standard teaspoon, Samuel Hitchcock, London |
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| Close-up of hallmarks and initials |
The teaspoon was made by Samuel Hitchcock, who, according to
Jackson's Silver & Gold Marks, entered his first mark in 1713 (164). From general research it appears that Mr. Hitchcock was by and large a spoon maker. The back of the teaspoon is crudely initialed "EI." The one feature on this teaspoon that stands out is the shape of the punch around the lion's head erased. To date, I have not seen the lion's head erased in the same shield-shaped punch...that is, until about a week ago.
About a week ago, I spotted a pair of Britannia-standard teaspoons by Samuel Hitchcock. Not only is this pair engraved with the same crude "EI," but they are also marked with the lion's head erased in the same shield-shaped punch.
Here is the pair of teaspoons:
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| Front and back of pair of Britannia-standard teaspoons, Samuel Hitchcock, London |
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| Close-up of hallmarks and initials on pair of teaspoons |
I always keep an eye out for spoons or forks that match those I already have, but the closest I've come is finding a set of tablespoons with the same stork crest, but the maker and date were different. Now, of course, I'm convinced that there are three other teaspoons out there matching these just waiting to be found. The hunt is on!
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| Together again at last |
Sources:
Pickford, Ian, ed. Jackson's Silver & Gold Marks of England, Scotland & Ireland. 3rd ed., 1989. Woodbridge:
The Antique Collectors' Club, Ltd., 2011. Print.
