Hanau silver 'Adam and Eve' apostle-style spoon, attributed to Ludwig Neresheimer & Co
Record status
Individual type · partial
This Hanau silver spoon, attributed to the silversmithing firm Ludwig Neresheimer & Co of Hanau, Germany, for the retailer Berthold Mueller, features an intricate figurative finial depicting the biblical scene of Adam and Eve.
The spoon serves as a decorative example of 19th-century revivalist metalwork, often referred to in the trade as an apostle or decorative souvenir spoon. The handle is topped by a sculptural composition representing the Tree of Knowledge, with a coiled serpent, and the two figures of Adam and Eve standing on either side. The bowl of the spoon is decorated with engraved fruit motifs, consistent with the thematic elements of the Garden of Eden.
The spoon measures approximately 5 5/8 inches (14.3 cm) in length and weighs 1.9 troy ounces. The craftsmanship reflects the detailed chasing and repoussé techniques characteristic of Hanau silver production during this period, which frequently drew inspiration from earlier Renaissance and Baroque silversmithing styles.
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
- 5 5/8 in. (14.3 cm.)
- Weight
- 1.9 ozt
- Material
- silver
Design
- Finial
- Adam and Eve with the tree of knowledge and serpent
- Bowl decoration
- engraved fruit
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
- Ludwig Neresheimer & Co / Berthold Mueller
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.