Description
A rare West Country silver three-pronged Trefid fork and Trefid spoon,
both with maker's mark only GF for Gabriel Felling, Bruton 1678-80,
the terminal of the fork engraved with an armorial and prick-dot dated '1678', the reverse of the bowl of the Trefid spoon with a ribbed rat-tail, and the terminal initialled 'H.H', length of fork 18.5cm, length of spoon 19.4cm, approx. weight 4.2oz. (2)
Provenance: The Cook Collection of Early Silver and Spoons, Woolley and Wallis, The Salisbury Salerooms, 24 October 2003, lot 1038.
The names of Cheke, Charles and Gerbridge continue to recur as early users of such a shield. the Charles family was firmly based in East Anglia, where Gerbridge and Cheke are also recorded. Cheke is also recorded as seated in Somerset and so it is probable that this shield relates to them..
