Elizabethan parcel gilt Apostle spoon of St Peter, London 1588

This Elizabethan Apostle spoon features a detailed parcel gilt finial depicting St Peter carrying a set of keys. Apostle spoons are a type of ornamental spoon characteristic of the 16th and 17th centuries, typically featuring the figure of an apostle or other saint as the finial.

This specific example, dating to 1588 and originating from London, follows the traditional form with a fig-shaped bowl and a tapered stem. The reverse of the bowl is marked with scratch initials 'B.R.S.', providing a point of individual history for the piece. The construction is noted for its quality casting, with the stem joined to the bowl in the standard historical manner. The spoon measures 17.7 cm in total length and weighs 60 grams.

The maker's mark is identified as a mullet, which is attributed to the silversmith Patrick Brew. The parcel gilt finish adds contrast to the silver surface, highlighting the ecclesiastical details of the finial figure. It remains a representative example of fine English silverware from the late 16th century.