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They also require a bit more effort to use, as they require more wrist movement and gripping than a shovel. The combination of beauty in form and the availability of this type of spoon means that the table spoon is one of the most collectable of flatware items. Originally a multi-purpose item, but also used for serving, or in sets of six as soup spoons. The title of "table" is generally only applied to this size spoon from the end of the 17thCentury, when dessert, tea, basting spoons etc. came into general use. The above photo shows from left to right a table, a dessert and a tea-sized spoon. Additionally, spoons are not as durable as shovels and can be easily bent or broken if not handled properly. Final Thoughts
On the other hand, spoons can be difficult to use for larger jobs, such as scooping larger amounts of food or mixing ingredients.Four top-marked stamps; lion passant, maker, date letter and duty mark (i.e. still no leopards head crowned). The sharp edge of the blade can also be dangerous if youre not careful, and it can cause serious injury if misused. MOST COLLECTABLE:Early examples,unusual spoon sizes, marrow forks, Scottish Provincial & Irish, rare patterns. The most common form of silver asparagus tongs are similar in design to oversized sugar tongs with the addition ofa restraining bar, usually held in place by screws, across the centre of the stem. The large blades are often pierced, for straining, and have a lip at the end of one to help hold the spears. Earlier forms of asparagus tongs (bottom example in photo) have un-pierced blades with a corrugated inner surface for improving grasp. This style of server has also been linked with other serving purposes e.g. chops, steak, salad and sandwiches (basically for whatever use the owner can find!). Other less common forms of asparagus tongs include the scissor action type and those with spring loaded blades - these generally date from pre-1800.
The blade is typically wide and flat, with a sharp edge, and one end of the handle is usually curved or bent for extra grip.
Berry Spoons
There are several names given to this elegant, long handled (usually in the region of 12"+) silver spoon; basting, serving stuffing, gravy or hash. The lasttitle is usually for the extra large bowled examples produced in the mid-18thCentury. They have been manufactured from the late 17thCentury onwards with the first examples being the Canon handled type, and ever since they have followed the form of the standard patterns.
Its important to consider both the advantages and disadvantages before deciding if a shovel is right for the job. What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Using a Spoon? It has a wide, flat blade with a sharp edge that makes it perfect for digging in soil and other hard surfaces. It also has a long handle which gives you more leverage when shoveling, making it a great choice for larger projects. The marrow scoop has two scoops one being roughly twice the length of the other. When in flatware pattern form the distinguishing decoration is found on the front between the two scoops and the hallmarks are in the centre of the underside. Beware ofForgeries. A spoon, however, is typically used for eating or cooking indoors. Where are Shovels and Spoons Used?This type of silver spoon can be found in many forms; teaspoon, dessert spoon, table spoon, sugar sifter spoon etc., and would generally be used for serving soft fruits. The bowls are elaborately embossed with fruits, the stems are often engraved and are either wholly or partly gilded to protect the silver from the corrosive effects of fruit acids. Most examples found in this category have been later embellished e.g. a plain Georgian spoon decorated by a Victorian hand. Any examples found hallmarked prior to 1840 should be viewed with suspicion. There are two fields of thought regarding these spoons. Firstly, that an elegant spoon has been vandalised and secondly that an attractive single spoon contains the tastes and craftsmanship of two distinct eras. These spoons are not fakes and are legitimate on the open market, although I would suggest that they should be sold as "with later decoration". Silver caddy spoons, in line with other small London-made spoons, will be marked only twice (lion passant & maker) on examples made prior to 1781, three times between 1781 & 84 (addition of date letter), four times from 1784 (addition of duty mark) until finally, in 1821, the leopard's head mark was added to make up the full complement of hallmarks. Seeteaspoonsection below for a full explanation.
Butter spades tend to be tea to dessert spoon sized, but the earlier butter knives increased in length to table spoon sized, before being reduced by the end of the 19thCentury to teaspoon size.Some shovels even have special features, such as a serrated edge to help with cutting through tough soil or a long handle to help with reaching into deep holes. Spoons can also be used to scoop and move soil, but are usually not as effective as a shovel for this task. Shovels can also be used for snow removal, and some models are even designed specifically for this task. MOST COLLECTABLE:Early examples (esp. Rococo style), Irish hook-ends, rare marks & unusual patterns. Sugar tong prior to 1790 are rarely marked with a date letter but can be given an approximate according to the following rules:-
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