so... how do you date a pewter spoon?

[whithill]

Found this today via metal detector on a Lake Michigan beach, near where I've dug trade silver, flat buttons, etc. This was in the sand, about 20 feet from the water's edge. Obviously a pewter spoon, but any clues how to date or otherwise identify this? Is there a spoon forum somewhere? I will probably donate this to the local historical society but would love to learn more about it before I do. Any wisdom most welcome! whit

 

[BARKER]

Hi Whitall; Yup, It is a Rattail Pewter From about 1750 - 1760 as other designs became more popular after that ok. Nice Finds. Bring them home and do a good solid research on them. Frame them nicely with a nice write up included. The museum will love you for it and you will gain great PR which can also translate into new sites opening up by the locals for you ok. Good Hunting. PEACE:RONB

 

[Silver Tree Chaser]

Very nice find! Fragments of such spoons abound, but a whole spoon of that age is rarely found. It's your find to do with as you like, but if it were mine, I'd hold onto for a while to carefully consider to the matter. You might never recover a similar find of that age in such remarkable condition - completely intact. You can always donate it at some point in the future, but I would record some general information on the find to provide at a later date for provenance purposes (some historical societies might even require it). I would avoid providing exact details, especially regarding the location of where it was recovered. Jusy my own opinion. Great Find!!!

 

[whithill]

for those who are interested, I wrote to Wayne Hilt, a renowned expert in pewter spoons; here is the response:

"Nice find. The spoon is in my opinion an 18th century item...The shape of the bowl an elongated taper oval originated around 1720+_. This form of bowl was used both in England and the Continent as well as America through around 1760-1780. During those latter years the design developed into a more tapered form.

The cast decoration on the handle is interesting. the raised "shell" on the face was undoubtedly produced when the mold was first made. the additional decoration shown in photo 3 are likely additions cut into the mold by one of its owners. The quality of the shell is superb while the back of the handle work is far cruder.

The rib up the back of the Bowl is typically early 18th century, while the shape of end of the handle design is more a mid to 3rd quarter design...The form in general reminds me of a European rather than English/American design."

 

[wwwtimmcp]

I concur the age between 1700-1780 kovels book know your antiques shows the same thing.

 

[ivan salis]

there is a "crest" type design on the spoon --IDing the crest could assist a lot in dating the spoon -- as folks say it looks very "colonial" era to me as well --very cool to find a totally intact --"usible" spoon .