In a Silversmith Shop, women would hand-burnish silver to polish it. This was considered women’s work. David S. Shure who wrote the book on Hester Bateman called the “Queen of English Silversmiths” describes a very plausible theory that she learned to handle silver by first working burnishing to polish the silver. Any expert in silver will tell you their years of getting the feel for smithing by using other metals first for the main reason of cost and the special nature of silver. He goes on to describe her excellence in her early work of making spoons. These spoons are a great way to start your collection of Hester Bateman. The Mark of her trademark is worn, but the date mark is very well struck and has lasted the handling over the years. The spoons themselves are in perfect antique condition. The same design was made later by Anne Bateman and Peter Bateman in 1797 which is shown in “Women Silversmiths 1685-1845” (The National Museum of Women in the Arts).
This pair was made in 1786. 42 grams each. 7inches long by 2 inches diameter of bowl.