A W H Darby for Alexander Ritchie, Celtic Style Iona Spoon

Manufacturer - W H Darby, Birmingham

Date - 1961

Description - A beautifully cast Celtic‑style silver spoon, distinguished by its pierced terminal depicting a Viking longboat in full sail and complemented by elegant Celtic knotwork along the stem. The combination of maritime imagery and interlace ornament gives the piece a striking sculptural presence—very much in the spirit of the early 20th‑century Celtic Revival.

This spoon was made by the Birmingham silversmith W. H. Darby, whose workshop played a significant role in the wider dissemination of Alexander Ritchie’s designs. After visiting Ritchie on the Scottish island of Iona, Darby established a long‑standing working partnership with him. Darby’s firm went on to produce silverwork from Ritchie’s original masters, helping to bring the distinctive Iona style to a broader audience during the first half of the 20th century.

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

Hallmark - This spoon has a manufacturer's cypher for W H Darby and a Birmingham date cypher for 1961

Dimensions - Spoon length: 12cms
Weight - 23gm