Charles I Silver St. Peter Apostle Spoon, 1635 Richard Crosse

This is a first class Charles I period antique, silver apostle spoon with an excellent model of St Peter to the terminal.

This fine quality spoon was made by the specialist spoonmaker Richard Crosse and has a nice chunky feel in the hand. It has the fig-shaped bowl and tapering, hexagonal stem that one would expect from a spoon from the first half of the 17th century. The reverse of the bowl is dot-pricked with betrothal initials and the date 1650.

The cast and gilt apostle figure to the terminal bears a sacred dove nimbus (representing the Holy Ghost's descent from heaven) and carries a key in his left hand. The key is the emblem of St. Peter and in Matthew xvi 18-19, Peter was given the Keys to the Kingdom of heaven. The use of one, two or three keys by painters in artistic depictions of St. Peter, began to be used during the eighth century, representing the keys to Heaven, the earth and Hell.

The condition is superb! Just look at the thick rim to the bowl. The apostle is well-modelled and retains its original gilding. The marks are in fine condition too and the spoon has a good, antique patina.

Richard Crosse was apprenticed to William Frend in 1623 and subsequently turned over to Robert Jygges. In turn, he became master to future specialist spoonmakers, such as Richard Wild in 1625, Nicholas Miller in 1632 and John Crosse in 1637.