Antique Georgian Exeter Sterling Silver Salt Spoon by Jacob Nathan, Fiddle Pattern, 1815

A fine antique Georgian sterling silver salt spoon, made by Jacob Nathan and assayed in Exeter in 1815. The spoon is crafted in the classic Fiddle pattern, with a simple rounded bowl and an elegant handle engraved with a script “B” monogram.

Compact and full of period character, this piece is a lovely example of early 19th-century English provincial silver. Exeter silver is less commonly encountered than pieces from the major London, Birmingham or Sheffield assay offices, adding extra collector interest to this charming George III salt spoon.

Details

Item: Salt spoon
Maker: Jacob Nathan
Maker’s Mark: JN
Assay Office: Exeter
Date: 1815
Period: George III / Georgian
Origin: England
Material: Sterling silver / 925
Pattern: Fiddle pattern
Monogram: Script “B”
Length: 10.2 cm
Weight: 9.05 grams
Condition: Very good antique condition

Condition

Very good antique condition with surface patina and light age-related wear consistent with use. The hallmarks remain legible, and the spoon presents well as a collectable Georgian provincial silver piece. Please review all photographs carefully, as they form part of the description.

Historical and Collector Context

Exeter silver is prized by collectors for its regional character and relative scarcity compared with pieces assayed in Britain’s larger silver centres. The Exeter Assay Office served the West Country and is especially appealing to collectors of provincial English silver.

Jacob Nathan is recorded as an Exeter-associated maker active in the early 19th century, with examples known from the 1815–1816 period. This salt spoon, hallmarked in 1815, belongs to the late George III period and reflects the restrained elegance of Georgian table silver.

Salt spoons were an essential part of formal dining before the widespread use of modern salt shakers, used with open salt cellars at the table. The Fiddle pattern became one of the most enduring English flatware designs of the 19th century, valued for its clean outline and practical elegance.

A charming Georgian Exeter sterling silver salt spoon, ideal for collectors of provincial English silver, Jacob Nathan pieces, Georgian flatware and refined antique table accessories.