In this latest article, Junior Valuer Rowan Hughes explores a collectable example of Victorian ‘upcycling’.
“The concept of reusing and upcycling is not a modern one. For decades, people have remade and updated pieces already in their possession rather than buying new ones when fashions change.
“A well-known example of this is Victorian ‘berry spoons’, silver spoons having embossed or chased berry and floral designs to their bowl. They were sometimes gilded as they were generally used to serve soft fruit, and the gild protected the silver from the fruits’ acids.
“Most of these spoons were created by embellishing Georgian Old English or Hanoverian pattern spoons. Although, some berry spoons were created new. Spoons with hallmarks before the mid-19th century should be more accurately described as Georgian spoons having later embellishments. In contrast, those with hallmarks from c.1840s onwards are Victorian berry spoons, as that’s all they’ve ever been.
“This process began as fruits became more readily available, and there was a greater need for specific utensils. This coincided with a demand for fine decorative items in the Victorian era as industry boomed and wealth increased.
“However, creating the decorative spoons brand new was expensive and reserved for the wealthy. The cheaper alternative was to create the spoons from Georgian pieces to meet the general demand from people of all wealth brackets.
“Some collectors appreciate the use of existing spoons to create new ones with the work of different eras being present in one piece. Others view the process as vandalising perfectly good pieces and object to the erasing of Georgian craftsmanship by Victorian hands.
“I believe the results are beautiful, and ‘berry spoons’ are excellent pieces to add to any collection.”
1818 Auctioneers’ Antique and Vintage Silver and Silver Plate department holds six auctions annually. These auctions are online and timed, and bidders can submit bids over 17 days. The auctions are held bi-monthly, and our catalogues boast an average of 200 lots spanning the late 18th Century to the present. With examples of silver and silver plate from around the world and estimates ranging from £25 to £15,000, our diverse and tempting auctions warrant a browse—and a bid.
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