ROYAL. A very rare George IV Coronation Spoon made in London in 1820 by William Eley & William Fearn.
ROYAL. A very rare George IV Coronation Spoon made in London in 1820 by William Eley & William Fearn.
375513
This spoon is a very rare George IV Coronation Spoon which was one of a number which were commissioned, by King George IV, from the fine flatware maker's William Eley & William Fearn in 1820 to celebrate the accession in 1820 and coronation in 1821. As you will see from the images, the spoon is modelled on the 16th and 17th century English seal top spoons and is silver gilt with a fig shaped bowl. It displays a twisted stem and baluster seal top decorated with lobing and cascading foliate motifs below. The top of the stem displays a very finely cast model of the Crest of England, the crowned Lion passant. The reverse of the bowl is engraved with the Crest of Prince Adolphus, 1st Duke of Cambridge, 7th son of King George III and Queen Charlotte. The Spoon is in quite excellent condition and is well marked.
These spoons were commissioned by King George IV and a set of twelve were on display with the crown jewels at one point and one, formerly in the Royal collection, is illustrated on page 171 in "Silver Flatware, English, Irish and Scottish 1660-1980", extract attached. The only other we have seen coming onto the market was at Woolley and Wallis auctioneers in 2021 (Lot 217, Silver & Objects of Vertu - Day 1, 13th July 2021). We know that the spoon must have been given as a gift by George IV to his brother, Prince Adolphus, 1st Duke of Cambridge, as it was in the great Christie's sales of the silver of the second Duke of Cambridge, see below.
The 1st Duke of Cambridge died at Cambridge House on Piccadilly in 1850 and his silver passed to his son, Prince George, 2nd Duke of Cambridge, 1st cousin of Queen Victoria. The second Duke died in 1904, having served as Commander of the British Army from 1856-1895. After his death there were several auctions of his property at Christie's including on the 6th and 7th June, 1904, "Valuable Collection of Old English and Foreign Silver and Silver-Gilt Plate of his Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge. This spoon formed part of Lot 118 in the sale. Like his brothers, King George IV and HRH, The Duke of York, The 1st Duke of Cambridge was a prolific collector of Silver.
Length: 7.15 inches, 17.88 cm
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![](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://www.marycooke.co.uk/british-silver-1760-1830/royal-a-very-rare-george-iv-coronation-spoon-made-in-london-in-1820-by-william-eley-william-fearn&media=https://seek-unique-co.s3.amazonaws.com/marycooke-8876-Qfhef-OE67/stock/68f2631a95d7f_image_url_dm100a.jpg&description=This spoon is a very rare George IV Coronation Spoon which was one of a number which were commissioned, by King George IV, from the fine flatware maker's William Eley & William Fearn in 1820 to celebrate the accession in 1820 and coronation in 1821. As you will see from the images, the spoon is modelled on the 16th and 17th century English seal top spoons and is silver gilt with a fig shaped bowl. It displays a twisted stem and baluster seal top decorated with lobing and cascading foliate motifs below. The top of the stem displays a very finely cast model of the Crest of England, the crowned Lion passant. The reverse of the bowl is engraved with the Crest of Prince Adolphus, 1st Duke of Cambridge, 7th son of King George III and Queen Charlotte. The Spoon is in quite excellent condition and is well marked. These spoons were commissioned by King George IV and a set of twelve were on display with the crown jewels at one point and one, formerly in the Royal collection, is illustrated on page 171 in "Silver Flatware, English, Irish and Scottish 1660-1980", extract attached. The only other we have seen coming onto the market was at Woolley and Wallis auctioneers in 2021 (Lot 217, Silver & Objects of Vertu - Day 1, 13th July 2021). We know that the spoon must have been given as a gift by George IV to his brother, Prince Adolphus, 1st Duke of Cambridge, as it was in the great Christie's sales of the silver of the second Duke of Cambridge, see below.The 1st Duke of Cambridge died at Cambridge House on Piccadilly in 1850 and his silver passed to his son, Prince George, 2nd Duke of Cambridge, 1st cousin of Queen Victoria. The second Duke died in 1904, having served as Commander of the British Army from 1856-1895. After his death there were several auctions of his property at Christie's including on the 6th and 7th June, 1904, "Valuable Collection of Old English and Foreign Silver and Silver-Gilt Plate of his Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge. This spoon formed part of Lot 118 in the sale. Like his brothers, King George IV and HRH, The Duke of York, The 1st Duke of Cambridge was a prolific collector of Silver.Length: 7.15 inches, 17.88 cm){kind=link}