SPOON

A complete (probably) silver spoon with gilding. The spoon still has the bowl (which is concave), the stem (which is made up if twists of metal) and the knop (depicting an anthropomorphic figure). The figure is male and is holding a spherical object in his left hand. The figure is dressed in Tudor style costume (including a cape, tights and knee length trousers). The detail on the figures face and costume is very fine, depicting all facial features and the creases in the material, as well as the buttons on his shirt. He is standing on a sort of plinth. The figure is 36.05mm in height, 5.97mm in width (arm to arm) and 19.14mm thick (back to front). The stem of the spoon has been made to look like two strands of metal twisted together (it measures 3.06mm in thickness). Where the stem joins the bowl there is a small bird with wings open acting as the joint. This is also a highly decorated part of the spoon. The bowl of the spoon is symmetrical and concave. The bowl measures 29.88mm in length, 22.20mm in width and the dish of the spoon measures a maximum of 6.64mm in thickness. There are no maker’s marks on the spoon. In total the spoon measures 120.11mm and weighs 21.96g. The spoon does not appear to be an apostle spoon or any of the other usual types one would expect to find. The spoon does appear to be made of silver and then gilded.