Stew Spoon, Liège 1764, André Remacle Forest, Seat Vacancy

Extremely rare pot or stew spoon in sterling silver from the Louis XV period with the hallmarks of the city of Liège.
It bears the four regulatory hallmarks:
- the master goldsmith hallmark, in this case that of André Remacle Forêt
- the year of the beginning of the prince-bishop's reign, in this case 1764 for Charles d'Oultremont
- the annual letter H for l year 1771-72
- the fourth hallmark is very rare because, instead of the usual hallmark with the coat of arms of the reigning prince-bishop, we find on this spoon the so-called "seat vacancy" hallmark, only struck between death of the prince-bishop and the election of his successor. In this case between October 21, 1771 (death of Charles d'Oultremont at the Château de Warfusée) and February 16, 1772. It weighs 120 grams.