**Originally Listed At $200**

Northwestern Europe, England, London, ca. 1784 CE. A trio of sterling silver dessert spoons with stamped marks on the handle verso. All three are stamped with "HB" in script for one of the most famous female silversmiths of the 18th century, Hester Bateman (1709 to 1794). The finials of 2 spoons are engraved with the owner's initial "H" in script. Hester Needham, sometimes Neden, married the goldsmith John Bateman in 1730 and mothered 6 children. When her husband passed away in 1760, she inherited his tools and took over his business and registered her own sponsor mark in 1761. Under Hester, the Bateman workshop grew and prospered, often competing with larger companies. After her death, her sons and daughter-in-law helped the workshop continue to thrive until the mid-19th century. The marks on all three spoons are mostly legible and include the lower case "i" to indicate the year, 1784. Size: 8.3" L x 1.75" W (21.1 cm x 4.4 cm); quality of silver: 93% to 94%; total weight: 172.9 grams

Provenance: private J. P. collection, Rye, Colorado, USA; ex-Bill Buffinger collection, Hollywood, California, USA

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

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#166215

Areas of dark patina and toning. Nicks and surface wear as expected with age and use. Small indentation on the handle of one. Softening and rubbing of marks, but mostly legible on one, and mostly discernable on the other two.