BACKGROUND INFO
More bits & pieces of "Silverware" (actually this piece is Silver plated) from the extended family, they heard that we run a family website (this one) and asked if someone may like their Silver and Silverplated items ... so here we go with another item.
This spoon has the distinct shape of a gravy or sauce ladle, but don't mistake this for a soup ladle ... this handle is only 12cm (almost 5 inches) long, way too short for your soup tureen. The most frustrating thing (for me) was that I cannot find ANY makers stampings anywhere on the ladle! No shapes, no hallmarks, no gothic stamping and not even a sign of EPNS, EP or A1
Heritage of this ladle is unknown, but it looks nice, is functional and in great condition!
The ladle is definitely Silver Plate, based on the considerable tarnishing that had occurred when it was given to us - yes, I have removed the "patina" - a sin for some but I just cannot see the point of Silverwares that look "dirty"
So, let's get down (and boogie) ... Woops wrong ad, let's get down to the description
UNIDENTIFIED SILVERSMITH - Sauce Or Gravy Ladle
Origin is unknown - could be England, Germany, Australian, American or even Indian! NI on this (No Idea)
Probably Silver electro-plated on a FERROUS base metal (but there are no stampings confirming this)
The base metal is definitely not Nickel as the metal reacts with a magnet i.e it is ferrous or Iron based
DEFINITELY this ladle has Silver content due to the tell-tale signs of Silver tarnishing when we received it and it cleaned up (Bi-Carb wrapped in Aluminium foil) exactly the same as Silver does.
The design is very nice, this actually grabbed my attention when I first saw this ladle. Nice rose bud design at the end of the handle and near the bowl of the ladle, the pattern is continued over on the rear side of the handle as well. The bowl and handle look to be of a one piece construction but I notice the bowl has four (intentional) "folds" to shape the bowl, they really wouldn't help much when pouring from the ladle.
MEASUREMENTS:
Curved handle length: 120mm
Bowl is oval shape: 53mm x 44mm
WEIGHT: 56g
COSMETIC CONDITION:
USED (hardly ever - I checked with the owner!)
Clean
NO oxidisation spots anywhere on the ladle, in fact no signs of Silver plating degradation at all.
NO physical damage to any part of the ladle
NO scratching of any significance at all - quite amazing as I would estimate this ladle to be from the 1950's but the owner tells me that they hardly ever used it so I guess that explains the condition.
To maintain the current condition, I have placed this ladle within a sealed clear plastic packet (to slow down the tarnishing process) and it now sits waiting to be introduced to another sauce or gravy boat!
