Demitasse spoon (one of a set of six)

1785-1800

Maker

Possibly Thomas Shields (1743-1819)

Measurements

5-1/8 in x 7/8 in x 5/8 in

Materials

Silver

Credit Line

Historic Odessa Foundation

Accession Number

1969.5271

Inscription

"TS" in relief within a rectangle is stamped into the handle shaft of each spoon.

Comments

The simply designed spoons have a down-turned handle tip and a fan-like motif in relief on the underside of the bowl at the handle attachment.  They have neither engraving of owner’s initials nor any history of ownership. Identification of the ‘TS” maker’s touchmark is uncertain.  Multiple TS marks have been identified as belonging to Thomas Shields.  Without more concrete evidence that the spoons were made or used originally in the Philadelphia area, identification of Shields as the maker seems speculative.