Antique Rare c1795 Georgian Silver Gilt Tea Strainer Ladle Turned Bone Handle

A particularly scarce and refined survival from the late Georgian tea table, this silver gilt tea strainer ladle represents an uncommon and sophisticated form seldom encountered today. Unlike standard pierced strainers or simple tea spoons, this piece combines a true ladle profile with an engineered straining bowl, reflecting both functional innovation and a high level of domestic refinement in late 18th-century tea service design.

The straining bowl is crafted in solid silver with rich internal gilding, applied to protect the metal from the staining effects of tea acids. It is finely pierced and formed with a delicately lobed and fluted profile, finished with softly crimped edges that help control and focus the pour. The shallow funnelled interior directs the flow of tea toward the centre of the strainer, an intentional and well-considered design feature that distinguishes this piece from more commonplace examples.

The handle is turned from carved bone and survives in excellent original condition, an increasingly rare feature as organic materials of this type were prone to splitting or replacement through regular use. Its ringed and tapering form is both elegant and ergonomic, fitted to the silver body by a cone-form ferrule. A small curled hook is incorporated at the rim, allowing the strainer to rest securely on the edge of a teacup or teapot during use.

Tea strainers of this specific ladle form, particularly those with gilt interiors and original bone handles, were produced in far smaller numbers than standard domestic strainers and were often subject to heavy use. As a result, surviving examples are genuinely scarce. Pieces of comparable quality and complexity are infrequently encountered on the open market, even within specialist Georgian silver collections.

Although unmarked by a maker or assay office, as is not uncommon for domestic tea wares of the period, the piece has been professionally tested and confirmed as solid silver. The reverse bears a hand-engraved date of 1872, likely added later to mark ownership or presentation, suggesting continued family value and preservation across generations. The form, materials, and construction are entirely consistent with late 18th-century or very early 19th-century production.

A rare and evocative object, combining intelligent design, mixed-material craftsmanship, and genuine scarcity, offering a tangible connection to the rituals and refinements of the Georgian tea table.

Size: L 11cm Bowl 6.8cm