Seal top spoon

Latten is a binary alloy of copper (70-80%) and zinc (20-30%). So the composition is identical to brass and the terms brass and latten are used interchangeably in early texts. In the 17th century the alloy often included a third element of iron (1-2%) usually an impurity, which results in a rather brittle metal. The proportion of iron seems to increase during the course of the 17th century. Latten spoons were not made in large numbers in England after the end of the 17th century. Latten spoonmakers are an ellusive group, and, the dating of latten spoons rests largely on stylistic features and their similarility to pewter and silver spoon styles. This spoon appears to have been acid-stripped as the surface is marked and pitted. Latten spoons were generally tinned to prevent the taint which unprotected brass is apt to give to food. Tinning was simply carried out by dipping the spoon into a bath of molten tin or pewter; the knops often left untouched to give the impression of a silver spoon with a gilt knop.