I have long yearned to be the owner of a silver mote spoon. I am an avid tea drinker and an appreciator of silverware. Over recent years I have enjoyed and learnt much from the various articles about mote spoons that have been published in our ASCAS Newsletters.

My hobbyist silversmith husband apparently 'took the hint' some months ago and secretly designed and made one for me. It was my Christmas morning surprise.

Imagine my delight when I unwrapped his gift and found my very own bespoke mote spoon!

Although its design is influenced by and reminiscent of mote spoons of the 18th century it is not a fake or a copy. The original design is by my husband, Ronald Lea Erratt, whose maker's mark, RLE, appears on the stem beside the metal purity stamp of 925. He made it for me to use, not to just store in a display case.

We live in Australia - a country that does not have a hallmarking system. A maker's mark and a metal purity mark are the only marks that commonly will be found on Australian silverware.

The length of the spoon is 16 cm (6 1/4 in).

I can guarantee that it removes 'motes' from my cup of tea perfectly.

Relevant articles published in ASCAS Newsletters by David McKinley
Article #113: Mote Spoon: A Fraudulent Conversion
Article #123: An Intriguing English Spoon
Article #171: The Significance of Mote Spoon Piercing
Article # 187: The History of Early English Silver Tea Equipage