A large plain soup ladle with an oval bowl and fiddle terminus. Stedman was very active in business as well as politics in 19c Raleigh, until his accidental death in 1833. His silversmithing career began in 1822 when he opened an establishment in Raleigh, which must have met with some success as he appeared to have taken on at least three apprentices. 13.5" long, 4.5' bowl
Here is an extremely rare item in fabulous condition. Standing 11" high and weighing 24 troy oz, it bears a contemporary monogram which appears to be WLS or WSL. James Spear was an active silversmith, as opposed to a mere retailer, in Charleston from 1846 to 1871, but formed a short-lived partnership with J.C.Wood , under the name of J.E.Spear & Co. This partnership lasted just the one year, 1849
