A set of six Japanese silver gilt octopus spoons retailed by Liberty & Co

A set of six boxed, early, Liberty & Co Japanese silver gilt octopus spoons.   They are immense fun with great expressions and shell (muscle) bowls. With lovely detail to both the bowl and terminal.

These spoons are all marked for Liberty, London, 1894, and carry the “F” London import mark.  They predate Liberty’s Cymric range when Liberty was largely selling only imported silver.

They are also marked S.M. whose mark typically appears on Liberty & Co’s silver in the 1893-1899 period.  The S.M mark has been documented by Adrien von Ferscht, an expert on Chinese Export Silver, as originating from a little known Canton firm working in Yokahama, Japan, Sadajiro Musashiya.  The firm’s founder and silversmith being Ozeki Sadajiro.  See this link for further information on this mark.

These spoons also feature in Simon Moore’s book “Artists’ spoons and related table cutlery” pages 50-52.

The spoons are all in exceptional, excellent, original condition, with crisp marks.  The box interior is in excellent condition and it is  still useable.  There are some areas of old glue and repair to the leather exterior and the clasp no longer works.

Price: Sold

Maker: SM, Liberty

Designer: NA

Date: 1894

Marks: S.M.  Ly&Co, London, “S”, “F” import mark

Material: Sterling gilt silver

Condition: Excellent

Size: 11.75 cm long

Weight: 0.4 oz, 11 grams each