A fine modern silver caddy spoon by Malcolm Appleby MBE (1946). Of oval form, with both sides engraved with a modern interpretation of an eagle's wing caddy spoon, made to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Society of Caddy Spoon Collectors, Edinburgh 2013, also signed M. Appleby '21', length 8cm, weight 0.84 ozt. Within original box with business card.
Dr. Gillian M. Orrell: A Lifetime fascination for Caddy Spoons
Dr. Jill Orrell's love of caddy spoons began quite by chance some 55 years ago during a visit to the Shuttleworth Collection of Vintage Aeroplanes. Spotting a poster advertising a talk on antique silver, she obtained a ticket and brought along a caddy spoon given to her by her grandmother. When the lecturer revealed an almost identical spoon and identified the maker as Hester Bateman, Jill's fascination was ignited. "Over tea, afterwards, he piqued my interest, and within weeks, I had become a collector." Her collection grew rapidly—aided by a remarkable bargain at the Burlington Arcade in London where she secured eight tarnished spoons for "a very low sum." As she later recalled with evident delight, "I have never had such a bargain since!" Jill joined The Society of Caddy Spoon Collectors in 1975 and has been a keen member for half a century. Her collection eventually numbered X pieces, with a particular fondness for delicate Georgian spoons. She served as the Society's Honorary Secretary from 1995 to 1999, stepping down to spend more time with her six grandsons. Throughout those years, she was a regular presence at London AGMs, annual dinners, and society outings to stately homes and museums across the country—including organising a memorable trip to Burghley House near her Stamford home in 1985. Working part-time in various medical posts while raising two sons and a daughter, Jill later practiced as an anaesthetist and then a medical inspector at what was the DHSS. Her husband, Ken, a solicitor who "professed no interest" in her collection, nonetheless served as her loyal "scout" at antique fairs, even producing "some beautiful surprise presents, including [her] only matching pair." Now 95, and having been unable to attend events or add to her collection in recent years, Jill has decided the time has come to share her prized collection with fellow enthusiasts. Her family has kept and will treasure the original Hester Bateman spoon that started it all, along with a few other cherished pieces—a fitting tribute to a collection built not just with knowledge and discernment, but with joy, memories, and love.
Malcolm Appleby MBE (born 1946) is a Scottish engraver. His public and private commissions include: the monde (orb) of the Coronet of Charles Prince of Wales Investiture 1969; a 500th anniversary silver cup for the London Assay Office (1978), amongst other prestigious commissions. He has lived in Scotland for most of his working life, and currently maintains an atelier at Grandtully, near Aberfeldy, Perthshire. He received an honorary D. Litt from Heriot-Watt Universary in 2000 [ and was appointed Member of the Order of hte British Empire (MBE) in the 2014 Birthday Honours for services to hand engraving.