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A few years after the turn of the eighteenth century the spoon eventually developed into the utensil which we use today. By 1720 its stem had become gracefully curved and terminated in a flat, rounded end which turned forward or upward and upon which it was rested on the table, so that the back of the bowl was uppermost in the French way.

It always seems a pity that the tea kettle is no longer required in the making of tea, and indeed has not been for generations since it was succeeded by the tea urn during the last 25 years or so of the eighteenth century, for it was among the most magnificent of all rococo domestic silver.

Comparatively few teapots were made in England before the eighteenth century and these are now exceedingly rare. As the fashion for drinking tea spread, the demand for the right kind of vessel in which to brew it brought about new types of containers for sugar, milk and tea.

Late nineteenth century electro-plated waiters cost around a quarter of the price of their sterling silver counterparts and were practically indistinguishable from them at first glance. This also applied to large tea trays with moulded handles which were handsomely decorated with rococo-style rim patterns and surface ornament.

Over three hundred years of tea-drinking in this country has left us a wonderful selection of things used in connection with tea—and also a wonderfulconfusion about some of them. So one ought first to try to distinguish between terms like tea caddy, canister, chest, and teapoy.

Here is where we collect fine eighteenth-century china in the traditional way—but with a difference. Instead of ranging over the whole field—and bumping up against the big collectors—we select one small,relatively unconsidered part of it.

Well.  Not revealed.  Sort of mentioned as a possibility.  Maybe. A small note at the bottom of this article on Maximum PC mentions that Valve, which I think I’m going to start calling “The Valve”, are considering adding upgrades to the engie’s dispenser and teleporter, no doubt due to my very recent complaints that I suck at playing engie.  The Valve sure looks after me!

I know many people who love to poke about in the trays of junk shops picking up odd silver spoons. Some hostesses like to put nice odd coffee cups or odd glasses in front of people: after all, it gives them something to talk about.

Buy this spot for only $1 per month!

Buy this spot for only $1 per month!