A Hilliard & Thomason, Birmingham, Victorian Sterling Silver Caddy Spoon

Manufacturer - A Hilliard & Thomason, Spencer Street, Birmingham

Date - 1865

Description - A delightful sterling silver ‘shell’ caddy spoon by Hilliard & Thomason of Birmingham, crafted with a beautifully detailed pierced handle that adds lightness and elegance to the design. The bowl is formed as a crisp, well‑defined shell — a classic Victorian motif that remains endlessly appealing.
The rear shoulder is engraved with a neatly executed monogram, adding a subtle touch of personal history without distracting from the overall refinement of the piece.
A charming and highly decorative little spoon, full of Victorian character and ideal for collectors of fine caddy spoons or small silver novelties.r

Condition - This spoon is in a clean, very good condition

Hallmark - This spoon has clear manufacturer's hallmarks for Hilliard & Thomason together with Birmingham date cypher for 1866

Dimensions - Maximum length - 8.5cm
Weight - 14gms

Date Context 1865:
* Queen Victoria begins her 21st year as Monarch
* The new Poor Law Act improves conditions in workhouses
* Elizabeth Garrett Anderson becomes the first woman openly to qualify as a doctor in the UK, by licence from the Society of Apothecaries in London (which immediately amends its regulations in a way that prevents other women from following her example). By the end of the year, she establishes her own medical practice in the West End of London
* Speed limit in Britain originally introduced by the Locomotive Act 1861 is reduced by the Locomotives Act 1865 – becoming 2 mph in town and 4 mph in the country