Apostle spoon depicting St. John
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1514-1515
This silver spoon with a gilt finial was made in London between 1514 and 1515 by an unknown maker. It measures 18.5 cm in length, 5.2 cm in maximum width, 2.5 cm in depth, and weighs 0.06 kg. The spoon features a deep, fig-shaped bowl hammered from silver, attached to a thick, tapering stem. The cast knop or finial is soldered to the stem using a 'V'-shaped joint characteristic of London spoonmakers of the era.
The finial depicts St. John the Evangelist standing atop a moulded capital, wearing a nimbus engraved with rays. The figure holds a chalice in his left hand, from which a creature emerges, while his right hand is raised in benediction. Marks include a leopard's head for London struck inside the bowl near the stem. The reverse of the stem bears a lowercase Gothic 'r' representing the date letter for 1514–15, as well as an unidentified sponsor's mark interpreted as a padlock or gate. The initials 'IG', indicating an owner, are inscribed on the back of the bowl.
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.
Historical context
Apostle spoons depicting the twelve apostles were popular during the sixteenth century and were used for eating from communal dishes. While individual spoons were sometimes given as christening gifts, complete sets of twelve or thirteen—including Christ—were typically owned by wealthier households. Few complete sets have survived, as many religious images were destroyed and silver was melted down for reuse during the Reformation.
Identification
- Source note
- Transcribed from the Victoria and Albert Museum collection record for this single object; how far it represents a wider collectible type has not been independently verified.
- Museum object name
- Apostle spoon
- Museum object number
- M.71-1921
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.