Service Spoon In Vermeil, L.-j. Anthiaume, Paris 1780-1782, Family Crest Of The Johnstone Clan

Service spoon in vermeil
Sterling silver gilded ~ 957/1000
Goldsmith Louis-Jullien Anthiaume, master in 1779
Paris, 1780-1782
Length: 30.5 cm
Weight: 147g
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Very good General condition
Usual wear
A few small strokes on the edge of the spoon [see detail photo]
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Hallmarks for Paris, 07/13.1780 / September 1782, Henry Clavel 1 :
- Charge for large silver works (A crowned A large) [Bimbenet-Privat n ° 503, p.152]
- Discharge for medium works of silver (Une tête d'Alexandre) [Bimbenet-Privat n ° 503, p.152]
- Illegible jurande hallmark

Hallmark of the master silversmith Louis-Jullien Anthiaume, son of Jacques, received master in 1779 and still mentioned in 1793 (Fleur de lys crowned, two grains, the letters LJA and for motto a royal baton) [Nocq p.14, with reproduction of the hallmark]
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The spatula engraved with an emblem depicting a winged spur. This Winged Spur most likely refers to the family crest of the Scottish Johnstone clan. The legend says in fact that, during the wars of independence, a king of Scotland, wishing to warn his warlord of the imminent arrival of English troops without sending him a written message, sent him a messenger from the Johnstone clan carrying a spur (traditional symbol of battle) to which were attached two grouse wings (a bird known for its speed). The warlord immediately understood the message (Prepare for battle immediately), mustered his armies in time and saved the independence of Scotland. Having become a knight, the messenger Johnstone received from the king the authorization to add this Crest to his coat of arms. And if that's not true, it's still very pretty.
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References
- Michèle Bimbenet-Privat and Gabriel de Fontaines, The dating of Parisian goldsmiths under the Ancien Régime, Paris-Museums 1995
- Henry Nocq, Le poinçon de Paris, tome I , Léonce Laget, Paris 1968