St Cross College, Oxford

Sara Dickson retired as Master's Secretary on 30th September 2005 after 23 years' service to St Cross College. Sara's express wish was that she did not want a large leaving party, so the gifts bought to mark the occasion were presented to Sara privately by the Master. Many members of the College (past and present) contributed to the gifts and will be interested to read about them. I am grateful to Derek Roe for organising their purchase and for the following notes. Ed.

Silver items given to Sara Dickson by members of St Cross College, on the occasion of her retirement (30 September 2005).

1. Pepper Caster. This is a small caster of classic mid-18th century type, the detachable top with simple piercing in a lattice of vertical and diagonal incised lines, and a finial of the usual style. It was made in London by Jabez Daniell in 1754-5, at which time he was working in Carey Lane. Jabez Daniell was a specialist caster-maker, who had been apprenticed to Samuel Wood. Wood, who had a long career, was one of the most prolific caster-makers of the 18th century, and St Cross has a large sugar-caster made by him. Jabez Daniell first entered his own mark in 1749, working at first solo and later (after 1766) in partnership with James Mince. He died in 1777.

The hall-marks are under the base, as usual, and are a complete set of four: the crowned leopard's head for London, the lion passant mark for sterling silver, the date letter (a lower-case t) for the assay year (which did not coincide with the calendar year) 1754-5, and the maker's mark, italic J.D. in a shaped punch (Grimwade 1990, p.97, no. 1254; see also pp 483-4 and 744). Correctly, the detachable top, which counts as a separate piece of silver, is also marked, on the sleeve, with just the maker's mark and the lion passant.

2. Tea Tongs. A pair of tongs of scissors type, made in London c.1765 by Richard Meach. Such tongs were used at the tea table for adding pieces of sugar, cut from a loaf, to tea. The scissors type was the usual form between c.1720 and 1770, after which it was replaced by the tweezers or bow type, usually referred to as 'sugar nips'.

The finger rings are circular, and the cast arms feature scroll-work which nicely reflects the rococo style of the mid 18th century, which had reached a late phase by 1765. The grips that held the sugar are simple but elegant three-lobed shells. The circular hinge is plain, but bears the contemporary engraved initials AW.

Another pair of tea tongs, so closely similar as probably to have been cast in the same mould, but having different engraved initials, is illustrated by D.Schlosberg (2004: p. 89, left), though no details of the maker are given.

The hall-marks are on the outer surface of the finger rings, each of which has the maker's mark RM and the lion passant mark for sterling silver. It was usual and perfectly legal for small items to carry only the maker's mark and the sterling mark, but in the absence of a date letter, the age of the tongs can only be approximate. Richard Meach first entered a mark in 1765, when he worked at Golden Cup on the corner of Hatton Garden. The date of his death is not recorded. The style of the tongs suggests that he would have made them in 1765 or pretty soon after, but one cannot get nearer than that. Little is known about him, but tea tongs were evidently a speciality, as more than 20 pairs by him are recorded (Schlosberg 2004, 109-12, 198).

3. Set of 6 Teaspoons. These spoons, which are of small size, were made in London by William Fearn, about 1770. The pattern is Old English with Feather Edge engraving, but they are distinctly unusual in also having 'fancy back' bowls with cast decoration, in this case scrolled stylised acanthus leaves. Feather edge engraving is most at home in the 1770s, while the fancy-back bowls are mainly earlier, 1740-1770. Each spoon has an engraved contemporary monogram (probably JK) at the end of the handle, on the front.

The hallmarks are on the back of each handle, at the bottom end, and are not well preserved, but each spoon has two marks: WF for the maker, and the lion passant mark for sterling silver. Given their small size, this is not unusual and was quite legal, but the absence of a date letter leaves us uncertain of their exact age. William Fearn first entered a mark in 1769, when he was working in Brownlow Street, Holborn: the decoration, shape and small size all suggest that these teaspoons belong to the very beginning of the 1770s. Fearn had a long career, lasting into the second decade of the 19th century. He made many spoons and other flatware, solo at first and subsequently in a succession of partnerships. He had been apprenticed to Thomas Chawner, another noted spoon-maker, and subsequently had various apprentices of his own: he stands right in the mainstream of London spoon-makers that runs right through the 18th century and on through much of the 19th.

Derek Roe.

References.

Grimwade, A.G. 1990. London Gold-Smiths 1697-1837: their marks and lives Third edition, revised and enlarged. x + 773pp. London: Faber and Faber.

Schlosberg, D. 2004. Eighteenth Century Silver Tea Tongs: an illustrated guide for collectors. 207pp. Published by the author.