Material:silver of 916/1000 (mainly silver and zinc alloy) or 925/000 (sterling standard
Origin: Calcutta
Period: 1860 - 1914
Silversmith: H & Co for Hamilton & Company
Crafting method: Mainly hand made
Dimension: Length: 17.5 cm
Weight: 52 g

This fruit or berry spoon was made in Calcutta (India) by Hamilton & Company, which was established by Robert Hamilton and others at the beginning of XIX century. Due to the fact that the British regulation on hallmarking was not in force in the British Colonies, immigrated silversmiths were use to mark the silverware with their trade mark and a series of pseudo-hallmarks similar to those used in England and Scotland for sterling silver.
Marks, struck in line on the handle are: H & Co (trade mark of Hamilton & Company); an elephant and a roman capital A. These particular hallmarks were in use between 1860 and 1914.
The spoon is of very good gauge and mainly hand made. It is not clear if at the date of crafting of this spoon, silversmiths working in India were using the former alloy of 916/1000 purity or the sterling standard like in the U.K.
The spoon has the classic fiddle pattern with floral engraved decoration on the handle and an embossing floral or fruit decoration on the bowl.
The overall condition is very good.