posted 03-27-2016 10:42 AM            

I think it was our friend Hose_dk who described assemblages like this as sets of six spoons (one missing). Anyhow, here we have 5 teaspoons by Francis Harache, London (maker’s mark only). I think that spoons in this style could have been made anywhere between c.1740 and c.1760 so shan’t try to be more precise with a date.

Next, three single teaspoons.

From top to bottom:

Teaspoon by Isaac Cookson, Newcastle, c.1750
Teaspoon of unknown origin, marked with a W and a flower head punched twice.
Teaspoon, unmarked as is often the case. It is sometimes difficult to judge whether such spoons are original or later copies cast from a genuine original casting.

Next, for comparison, rococo and rococo revival examples.

Top: teaspoon by Charles Gordon, London, 1835.
Bottom: teaspoon marked PR, probably for Philip Roker II, London, c. 1740.

And finally, what I think is the most ridiculous teaspoon in my collection.

posted 03-28-2016 06:07 AM            

Like you, I had wondered what happened to the Albert Collection. It went on show at a London dealer’s in 2004 when the book was published and available for purchase but the silver was only for viewing. It then disappeared from public view, but over the years I noticed the occasional item or group of items with an Albert Collection provenance being offered for sale. When recently I bought my marrow scoop with that provenance, I asked the dealer about its history. According to him, the collection had been bought en bloc by a consortium of dealers. It was then presumably dispersed mainly via private sales. I don’t know whether any of the collection remains together as some sort of investment. My marrow scoop was being sold on commission for an individual who had bought it from one of the consortium.