English silver-gilt Apostle spoon depicting St. John, London, 1654
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1654
This 17th-century English silver-gilt Apostle spoon, crafted in London, features a detailed finial representing St. John, distinguished by a sacred dove nimbus.
The spoon has an overall length of 18.4 centimeters (7.25 inches) and weighs 59 grams. Constructed with a substantial gauge, the piece retains its original gilding on the finial. The bowl of the spoon is in good order and includes a town mark that appears slightly rubbed. The rear of the stem is stamped with silver-gilt marks that remain fairly clear. A point of historical interest is the scratch-engraved initials 'I.T. over A.F.' located on the stem, likely added by a previous owner.
The spoon exhibits typical signs of wear consistent with its age. Apostle spoons represent a traditional form of ornamental tableware, often given as christening gifts in the 16th and 17th centuries, characterized by the sculpted figure of an apostle or saint at the terminal of the handle.
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
- 18.4 cm
- Weight
- 59 g
- Material
- silver-gilt
Technical characteristics
- Marks
- silver-gilt marks to rear of stem, town mark to bowl
Design
- Finial
- St. John with sacred dove nimbus
- Inscriptions
- I.T. over A.F.
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
- Jeremy Johnson
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.