A William and Mary provincial West Country silver ‘lace back’ spoon, Plymouth dated 1690 by Peter Rowe (active from circa 1690)

Trefid pattern, oval bowl with rat tail heel and scroll decoration. The front of the terminal with stamped decoration of foliate scrolls, prick dot engraved to the reverse with late 17^th century initials I:W over I:W over 1690, underneath later engraved with a mid-19^th century initial N. Marked to the stem with maker’s mark PR, and crowned rose twice.

Length – 19.1 cm / 7.5 inches

Weight – 39 grams / 1.25 ozt

Peter Rowe was potentially born circa 1664, given a marriage for a Peter Rowe in 1685. His last appearance in the municipal records is in 1722. His Britannia standard wares are noted between 1701-11, but is most known for producing the Eddystone Lighthouse salt, made circa 1698 upon completion of the famous lighthouse of that name. This salt is marked with a maker’s mark 'Rowe' then ‘Plyn' and Britan’. That format of marks is found upon a lace back trefid spoon dated 1699, sold the Charles C Brian Collection, Chilcotts, 4 Dec 2021, lot 10 (£750 hammer). The PR mark is recorded on spoons, church plate and a spice box, Harrison, M., (2014), Exeter & West Country Silver,. Berforts Group, Hastings. P.196-197. Rowe seems to have become active about 1690, as this spoon confers, and would have used the PR with rose and crown marks between 1690-97, illustrated Kent, T., (1992), West Country Silver Spoons and Their Makers, 1550-1750, J.H. Bourdon-Smith Limited, p.129.