1609 William Cawdell Silver Apostle Spoon, St. James the Greater

This is a fabulous James I period silver apostle spoon with a superbly modelled apostle finial in the form of St James the Greater. 

This top quality spoon was made by William Cawdell who was the most important spoonmaker of the late 16th and early 17th centuries. The spoon has a good, hefty weight in the hand and is in superb condition throughout. The modelling of the finial is top drawer and unusually, the nimbus to the apostle's head is decorated with a Tudor rose.

The apostle James, was the son of Zebedee and brother to St. John. He is termed as "the greater" because he became an apostle before the second St. James ("the lesser"). His emblem is a long pilgrim's staff which he is holding in the right hand. 

The condition is excellent with a full-shape bowl and whilst the patina is good throughout there are three parallel scratches to the top, front of the stem, the purpose of which we are unsure. The London hallmarks are clear and include the "W" inside a "C" maker's mark for William Cawdell.

William Cawdell was the most important spoonmaker of the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was apprenticed to Patrick Brue in 1576 and was an important link in the master/apprenticeship dynasty of London spoonmakers.His output was prolific and the quality of his spoons were the best of the late Tudor period. His distinctive style of maker's mark was later copied by his apprentices (James Cluatt, Martin Cottrell and John Jermyn) that succeeded him.