Spoon, silver table spoon

Hester Bateman, a woman silversmith, owned and ran one of London's most innovative metalworking businesses. Her husband died in 1760 and left his tools to her in his will. She registered her first hallmark at Goldsmith's Hall in the following year. Her sons, Jonathan and Peter, worked with her.

She supplied silver to a wide range of customers, specialising particularly in simple but well made silver for middle class homes. This silver spoon is a good example of the type of item that her workshop produced. She retired in 1790 at the age of 82. The firm continued to prosper after her death in 1794.