Charles II provincial West Country silver apostle spoon by John Smith II, Taunton c. 1665
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1665
This provincial West Country silver apostle spoon was crafted in Taunton, circa 1665, by the silversmith John Smith II. Measuring 19 cm in length and weighing 47 grams, the spoon features a traditional fig-shaped bowl and a straight, tapering stem.
The terminal is finished with a cast finial, identified as likely representing Saint Jude, which retains visible traces of original gilding. The bowl's nimbus has been later engraved with a Ducal coronet. The reverse side of the bowl exhibits contemporaneous prick-dot engravings consisting of the initials 'WP' over 'DG', accompanied by decorative swirls and the date 1670. Additionally, the reverse of the stem bears the inscription 'Carolvs Rex 1630'.
The maker's mark, 'IS' enclosed within a shaped punch, is clearly struck once on the bowl. This piece exemplifies 17th-century English silver craftsmanship from the regional West Country style, combining secular ownership markings with traditional religious-themed finial design.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Length
- 19 cm
- Weight
- 47 grams
- Material
- silver
Technical characteristics
- Marks
- IS in a shaped punch
Design
- Bowl
- fig shaped
- Finial
- cast figure, possibly Saint Jude
- Engravings
- Ducal coronet on nimbus; WP over DG with date 1670 and swirls on bowl reverse; Carolvs Rex 1630 on stem reverse
Identification
- Source note
- Described from a single auction-house listing published on Invaluable (reproduced with Invaluable's permission). Details apply to that one example; other examples of the type may differ, and the listing is supplementary evidence, not authentication.
- Maker named in listing
- John Smith II
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.