Square Pierced Tea Strainer

Stars punctuate the pierced design of this square handled tea strainer, the cutwork carrying both the star motif and the open pattern that lets the strainer function. It belongs to the First Design Period of 1931 to 1946.

The star is among the simple folk-derived motifs Spratling drew into his silver, here integrated into the calado, or pierced silverwork, rather than applied to it. The square form gives the piece a more architectural profile than the rounded strainers.

The strainer is recorded in Goddard's Spratling Silver: A Field Guide. Early pierced strainers with figural motifs surface only occasionally.