Charles II Silver Trefid Spoon, 1675 by SG

Dating from the Charles II period, this is a good quality silver trefid spoon in fine condition with neither damage nor repair and a good antique patina.

The spoon has a thick stem and nice weighty feel in the hand, plus a good strong reeded rattail to the reverse of the bowl.Flamboyant and original dot-prick engraved initials are located to the back of the terminal together with the excellent set of London hallmarks. The Gothic date letter "S" is located away from the other marks in the typical style of the mid-17th century to prevent the later addition of finials, although by this date it was unlikely that such malpractice would take place as both apostle and seal top spoons were out-of-fashion and would have looked clumsy on the trefid's flat stem.

The maker of this spoon was obviously an accomplished spoonmaker and the mark is very clearly "SG" with a crown above and mullet below. Although this maker is not documented there was a silversmith called Simon Gibbon working in the third quarter of the 17th century who is noted by David M. Mitchell in "Silversmiths in Elizabethan & Stuart London" (page 342) as being the master to John Austin during the 1670's and died towards the end of the latter's apprenticeship in 1678. It seems likely that he was the son of another Simon Gibbon who earlier in the 17th century was a successful silver and gold shop retailer rising to the rank of Upper Warden of the Goldsmiths Company in 1629. In the absence of other candidates with the unusual SG initials, Simon Gibbon II would seem the most likely owner of this mark.