A Fine & Rare Pair of George III Sterling Silver Ice Cream Shovels by Richard Crossley, London 1798                       
             
A very handsome pair of 18th century sterling silver ice cream shovels, both showing spatulate shaped bowls rising to shouldered stems terminating to handles with hand engraved heraldic crests.        
 
Measuring 8.75" long, with the bowls measuring 2.25” wide and 1" high from the heel of the bowl to the tip. The reverse bearing London hallmarks with date letter for 1798 and makers marks for noted British silversmith Richard Crossley.                                                                                                                                      
In addition to their scarcity, they have a significant combined weight of 212 grams or 6.81 troy ounces.
 
Richard Crossley (1740-1815) is recorded as working from 1782 until 1812 and is widely considered to be one of the most important British makers of silver flatware of the late 18th & early 19th century.  To that point, an 18th century sterling silver ladle by Richard Crossley is in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City.