Antique Fine c1880 Mappin Silver Plated Crumb Scoop Griffin Passant Crest
Particularly fine example of one of the finer Victorian silver-plated crumb scoops currently available, this specialised dining implement was originally used by table servants to clear crumbs and minor spillages from the tablecloth between courses. The form remains surprisingly practical today, offering an elegant and effective way to deal with coffee, sugar spills or breadcrumbs on a kitchen or dining surface. This example was produced by Mappin & Webb and dates to the late 19th century, circa 1880.
The scoop is made in Prince’s Plate, Mappin’s high-quality triple silver electroplate, valued for its durability and bright finish. The broad, flat rectangular tray is gently upturned at the edges and paired with a distinctive offset handle, allowing the scoop to sit flush to the table surface for efficient use. The handle follows the classic fiddle pattern, with its characteristic widening toward the terminal and subtle shoulders at the junction, a form widely favoured in Victorian tableware.
At the top of the handle is a finely engraved griffin passant crest, depicting the mythological creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle, shown walking with one forepaw raised. Such crested examples were typically commissioned as part of a bespoke dining service for a particular family, club, or institution, adding both heraldic interest and a sense of provenance.
The reverse bears the stamps “Mappin,” “&,” “Comp’y,” and “S & I,” placing the piece firmly in the period before the firm adopted the “Ltd” designation in 1898. The construction displays thoughtful Victorian engineering, including a reinforced V-shaped or rat-tail style junction where the handle meets the tray, designed to strengthen this natural stress point in use.
The surface retains a pleasing, bright sheen with light wear consistent with age, and the form remains crisp and well balanced. Both functional and decorative, this is a refined and increasingly uncommon survival from the era and surprisingly still a practical specialist kitchen and table accessory today.
Size: c. L 31cm, W 8cm
*Please go to our shop on Ebay for other similar items, we can also look to combine postage where possible