Object Description
An elegant antique sterling silver serving ladle with a shell shaped bowl. Excellent plain style. Large size and heavy gauge metal.
Weight 186 grams, 5.8 troy ounces.
Length 33cm. Width of bowl 8.8cm.
London 1776.
Maker William Sumner & Richard Crossley.
Sterling silver.
18th century.
Marks. Stamped on the reverse with a clear set of “up the handle” English hallmarks typical of this period.
Up the handle marks. On early examples of table silver when the silver marks were struck on the thin part of the stem they distorted the form of the piece and so the silversmith had to hammer this back into shape. That’s why the hallmarks are often squashed and distorted and become more easily rubbed and worn. From c.1780 onwards the Assay Office stamped table silver near the top of the stem as opposed to on the stem just below the bowl, and hallmarks are generally much clearer because there is more space on which to strike them.
Maker: William Sumner & Richard Crossley
William Sumner, flatware maker, was apprenticed under Thomas Chawner. Worked in partnership with Richard Crossley 1775 – 1782 (mark WS/RC). His first mark was entered in 1782. His widow Mary and daughter Elizabeth were also registered as silver spoon makers.
Richard Crossley, London silversmith, not apprenticed. Already established as a spoonmaker, he became free by redemption in 1782. Livery 1791. 1st mark entered 1775 as spoonmaker in partnership with William Sumner. Further marks alone in 2nd 1776 (2 sizes), 1777, 1780, 1782, 1785, 1795 (2 sizes), 1802, 1804. 10th mark in partnership with George Smith as spoonmakers in 1807. 11th mark alone as plateworker 1812. Died 1815. Grimwade describes Crossley’s output of flatware as considerable.
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