Teaspoon without City or Duty Mark?

[Dannd]

Hi Silver Experts,

I came across this spoon on my hunt and thought it was quite strange. It has the lion passant (in an oval? which is also strange) showing that it's sterling but it's missing a city mark and a duty mark. Has anyone ever seen anything like this? Is this some old bootleg silver or is it normal on small items as a teaspoon? Finally, I can't seem to find this makers mark in the vast collection here. So my questions are, has anyone seen this style of hallmarking before? If so what does it mean? Can anyone date this spoon? Who is the maker of this piece? Silver cutlery isn't really the type of silver I collect but I got this in a group of silver but I thought maybe someone here would know. Also is it worth straightening up and polishing? Thanks a lot!

D.

[AG2012]

Hi,
Canada ?

Regards

[Sasropakis]

Could be James Sutton & James Bult (1782-84) and London. Small items like teaspoons and sugar tongs from London didn't have town mark until later date and the duty mark was introduced in 1784. But teaspoons should have date letters from 1781 onwards. Any change that it has been erased due to polishing or maybe just initially struck poorly? There seems to be a darker area before the lion passant and something between it and the makers' mark.

[Dannd]

Hi,
Canada ?

Regards

- What makes you say Canada? It could be, I just checked the Canadian silver marks and the only similarity I saw was a Lion passant in an oval.

Could be James Sutton & James Bult (1782-84) and London. Small items like teaspoons and sugar tongs from London didn't have town mark until later date and the duty mark was introduced in 1784. But teaspoons should have date letters from 1781 onwards. Any change that it has been erased due to polishing or maybe just initially struck poorly? There seems to be a darker area before the lion passant and something between it and the makers' mark.

- I think you may be on to something, I found a similar spoon in shape (although serving not teaspoon) with a similar mark and another set of tablespoons herec].Again similar shaped spoons & manufacturer mark but it must have just been struck poorly or polished off because its definitely missing the date mark. There is an indentation next to the lion passant so its possible that was a date mark at one time and through use (lots of tea drinking) & polishing it got worn flat as the lion & manuf. marks are both quite warn themselves.

Thanks a lot for both your suggestions!

D.