A rare small-sized early 18th century silver-gilt Travelling Canteen.
A rare small-sized early 18th century Travelling Canteen, comprising six silver-gilt Cannon Handled Dessert Knives and six Forks, together with a pair of andiron Sugar Tongs, and six Hanoverian pattern teaspoons.
Each piece engraved with the initials ‘M.P.’
A maker’s mark is visible on a number of the handles and can be identified as the Britannia standard mark of William Bedford. The andiron tongs, which have pierced bowls and an interior steel spring, are unmarked. Three of the teaspoons have a clear maker’s mark only for Paul Hanet; three of the teaspoons have a post Britannia lion passant and a maker’s mark, perhaps for William Toone. The steel knife baldes are struck with a cutler’s mark, a dagger above a crown, for the London Cutlers’ Company.
The style of the case and the combination of marks would suggest that the set was assembled and cased circa 1720.
Description
Condition:
Good with minor wear to the outer case and the key missing, the catch of the hasp having been filed off. Some surface rust to the steel parts. Three of the teaspoons perhaps slightly later. The andiron tongs slightly distorted, allowing the steel spring to be slightly apart from the silver arms of the tongs. The tongs may originally have had a removable spike which would have been used to clear the spout of a teapot.
Dimensions:
The case with contents measures: – 17.80 cm. high; – 10.90 cm. wide; – 7.30 cm. deep; and weighs – 761.40 gms.
