The Quernmore collection of early silver spoons at Woolley and Wallis (15/10% buyer’s premium) was not the best of the three collections secured for the Wiltshire auctioneers by consultant Alexis Butcher over the past couple of years, but it was enthusiastically received, with just 15 of 117 lots unsold.
These did include some of the more valuable pieces, such as the late Charles II lace back trefid spoon illustrated on the far right of this group, estimated at £4000-5000.
This may have indicated a slight freeze at the upper end of the market – with collectors not willing to sell, and therefore unable to buy, high value spoons. But the other three, less important spoons in this picture sold well.
From left to right: a fully marked, 13/4oz trefid spoon with a ribbed rat-tail by William Mathew, London 1691 – £1350 (estimate £700-800), a fully marked, 11/2oz Commonwealth puritan spoon by Steven Venables, London 1655 – £2100; a rare Commonwealth child puritan spoon, also by Steven Venables, London 1655, fully marked – £1100.
Spoon market needs stirring
Owners of silver spoons are generally believed to have a head start in life, and the continuing bouyancy of this market might keep a few heads above water in the coming months.
