An early Japanese Liberty silver “fan” tea spoon

For sale is this early Liberty & Co Japanese silver and gilt tea spoon with flower bowl and fan terminal. With lovely detail to both the bowl and terminal, highlighted with faint gilding (not visible in photos, but clearly visible otherwise).  This spoon is a rarity, dated for London 1893, the first year that Liberty entered their mark at the London assay office.

It is 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 maker working in Yokaham, Japan.  See this link for further information on this mark.

Price: Reserved

Maker: SM, Liberty

Designer: NA

Date: 1893

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

Material: Sterling Silver

Condition: Very good. Some wear to gilding.

Size: 9.0 cm long

Weight: 0.2 oz, 5 grams