Maker of mote spoon

[rat-tail]

Hi All - any help identifying the maker of this mote spoon would be appreciated - marks look like a cursive E.C although it could be E.something. Jocksons shows two silversmiths for the period with very similar marks Elias Cathart (1742) and Ebenezer Coker (1739). The mark is so squashed I find it difficult to tell. The lion passant further down the stem is rubbed beyond recognition. - Many thanks Frank

[agphile]

This will be Coker. On Cachart's mark the loop at the top o0f the E touches or intersects the left hand side of the letter.

[rat-tail]

Many thanks - appreciate it - Frank

[SirWatkynBassett]

Hello,

There has often been debate regarding is it Coker, or is it Cachart when reviewing their marks, and whilst I'm hesitant to attempt to contradict agphile I feel that in this case the maker is Elias Cachart.



Although both men registered lobed punches, only Cachart, as far as I'm aware, used pellets, as can be seen from the photo of the struck mark it has two pellets. Cachart was also an extremely prolific maker of flatware, whereas, Coker was more known for his salvers and candlesticks, but of course this does not dismiss the possibility that Coker ever made spoons, but only that he was a specialist in another field and less likely to be a spoonmaker.

Another point always to remember is the registers at London were compliled using ink impressions taken from the presented punches, these often prove to be inaccurate in varying degrees of detail and reproductions of the marks as recorded by Arthur Grimwade and others must not be taken 100% accurate.

Bassett

[agphile]

Well, I certainly wouldn't want to contradict Bassett and have to confess that I didn't register the pellets. Perhaps I need to dig out my own spoons that I had attributed to Coker some years ago to have another look at their marks. I think that when I got them I was probably going by Ian Pickford's "Silver Flatware" which makes the case for Coker as a spoonmaker. I don't recall pellets in their marks but I shall now check this out!

[SirWatkynBassett]

Hello agphile and Frank,

I've taken some photos of spoon markings that I believe are those of Elias Cachart, unfortunately these marks are struck onto tea-spoons and are incomplete, but clearly show a pellet.



I also found a table-spoon with marks that may be those of Ebenezer Coker, this one has no pellets.





Bassett

[agphile]

I too have been rummaging among my spoons and have turned up the following. I’m afraid I haven’t got round to taking pictures.

Large Onslow serving spoon, 1759, EC in block capitals for Coker (Grimwade 550)

Basket of Flowers back teaspoon, EC over TH for the Coker and Hannam partnership (Grimwade 3539)

These two at least demonstrate that the Coker workshop did produce flatware.

Then with a cursive EC mark, a 1746 shell back tablespoon, a shell back teaspoon and a Hanoverian salt shovel. The first two have pellets so I guess I now need to re-assign them to Cachart. I’m not sure whether the mark on the salt shovel had pellets originally or not so it remains an either or.

[agphile]

Back again with a correction. Bassett's pictures have caused me to clean up the marks on my 1746 tablespoon and have another good look at them. What I saw as a pellet after the E disappeared on cleaning and the pellet after the C turns out to be the indentation in the side of the punch. It is actually the same mark as on Bassett's tablespoon. I conclude that, with the cursive marks, I have a tablespoon that is probably Coker, a teaspoon that is probably Cachart and a salt shovel that remains either or. I also conclude that I need new glasses.

[JBA]

On a less scholarly note, I feel it worth pointing out that the foliate piercing on this mote spoon is really quite lovely, and quite unusual. A really nice example.