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. This Hanoverian rat-tail spoon continued in fashion for a few more years, the rat-tail gradually disappearing to be replaced by small droplets, either one or two, at the back of the bowl, or the increasingly fashionable scallop-shell, typical of the rococo period. The stem evolved into a flatter form, terminating by the 1760s in a curve which turned in the opposite direction to its predecessor, ie backward instead of forward, so that the spoon could be placed on the table with the interior of its bowl showing,as is still the custom in England and elsewhere today. This is termed the `Old English’ pattern and has been the basic form for spoons ever since.

A variety of decoration began to adorn this shape. Over successive years ornament included the very popular and attractive feather-edge engraving comprising a border engraved with short, feathery slanting lines; bright-cutting, the delightful faceted type of engraving; and the simple threaded edge. The Onslow pattern, named after Arthur Onslow (1691-1768) who was Speaker of the House of Commons for 33 years, was an earlier design, appearing before the middle of the eighteenth century. Its stem terminated in an unusual curled and reeded volute which tapered gracefully into the stem, thus successfully combining the ornate with the elegant.

Antique Collector MagazineWithin about 20 years of the turn of the eighteenth century spoons of different sizes became more usual and the table spoon as distinct from the dessert spoon emerged. Tea spoons were produced in growing numbers as the British addiction to tea intensified, despite the horrifyingly high cost of the beverage. The fiddle pattern had appeared by the end of the eighteenth century, growing in popularity during the following century, and still remaining popular today. The fiddle stem comprised square shoulders above the bowl junction. The stem end was rounded with inward-directed shoulders graduating into the shaft of the stem. The fiddle pattern might be either plain or decorated with contemporary ornament. Also making their appearance at this time were the ornate King’s pattern and similarly opulent Queen’s pattern, both based on the fiddle pattern and incorporating anthemion and shells in relief at their decorative stem terminals, with scrolled and threaded edges. These, too, remain fashionable today. Such designs appeared on flatware generally.

Fancy-back or picture-back spoons mostly date from about 1740 but are more numerous after about 1760, though earlier examples are known. Most picture-back spoons are tea spoons, although other sizes were made, but picture-back dessert spoons are rare. Picture-back tea spoons are exceedingly varied and attractive. They were produced by various spoon-makers, perhaps die-struck or with cast ornament, and their pictures or patterns were often similar, but it is unknown whether this is because early examples were copied from a pattern book or whether the makers simply copied each other. Some designs were politically motivated, such as the dove holding an olive branch — also found on American spoons — which was in all probability inspired by the abortive Olive Branch petition from the American Colonists to George III in 1775, although the King refused to meet Richard Penn. Other designs and pictures included shell and scroll backs; a delightful pyriform teapot; sprays of flowers; a vase of flowers; a hen with chicks in a farmyard scene; swans; a milkmaid with pails; and various animals. Picture-back spoons, although scarce, are not impossible to find, particularly in remote markets or shops where they fetch sums far below their usual cost. Important eighteenth century spoon-makers include Thomas Chawner, Daniel Smith and Robert Sharp; George Heming and William Chawner; John Wakelin and William Taylor; and John Crouch and Thomas Hannam.

Most specific-purpose spoons appeared later in the eighteenth century. Mustard spoons were introduced during about the third quarter of the eighteenth century and, while the decoration on the stem was the same as other flatware at that time, the bowl was distinctive because of its unusual fig shape, a form which was also followed by early egg spoons. These generally began to filter into homes from the turn of the nineteenth century, though some examples, particularly those with silver-gilt bowls, date from the final years of the eighteenth century. They were generally sold as part of the fittings on egg frames. Coffee spoons were very late arrivals although they are recorded as early as the first few years of the eighteenth century in a vague context. Since tea spoons were small they no doubt doubled up for both purposes, and until the later years of the nineteenth century spoons made specifically for coffee were unusual. The old habit of taking salt on the blade of a knife was replaced with the introduction of salt spoons, which appeared as early as the first few years of the eighteenth century, their use increasing as did that of the salt cellar. Their bowls were commonly of a shovel shape, until the usual rounded form emerged towards the middle of the century. Berry spoons, used for fruit, appeared generally during the nineteenth century and later. Gilded, with heavy embossing of grapes and vine leaves or other naturalistic forms, they have been copied many times during this century. Sugar sifter spoons, with pierced ladle-shaped bowls, were used throughout the eighteenth century for the spreading of sugar on desserts or fruit at mealtimes. Very early examples date from about 1700.

Medicine spoons, however outdated they may seem today, played a vital role in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, enjoying popularity particularly in the latter period when the loathsome dose of castor-oil was administered. Medicine spoons took various forms, the most important two of which included a covered bowl and a double-bowl variety. The latter was usually about seven-and-a-half inches long with a small bowl at one end and a larger one at the other, used no doubt simply for varying quantities, or, as one theory has it, the smaller bowl possibly being for powdered forms of medicine. This type of spoon appeared from about the 1760s and various examples were produced.

The castor-oil spoon came into use during approximately the second decade or so of the nineteenth century. It consisted of a bowl with a cover which had an opening at one end and a circular, hollow handle or stem. The castor-oil was poured in, a finger held over the opening and the medicine was tipped quickly through the hole in the covered bowl into the mouth of the unfortunate victim. So successful was the idea that thistype of spoon was still in use until at least the middle of the nineteenth century.

Other types of medicine spoons included an invalid’s covered feeding spoon, similar to the castor-oil spoon but without the hollow handle, also in use during the nineteenth century, and a short-stemmed, single-bowl spoon which was generally used for measuring liquids and which appeared approximately during the middle of the eighteenth century.

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