Edward VI Silver Seal Top Spoon, 1547

Silver seal top spoons from the six-year reign of King Edward VI are very rare and this is a great example that was probably made by the best spoonmaker of the period, Nicholas Bartholomew.

The spoon takes the standard form of the mid-16th century with a deep, fig-shaped bowl, hexagonal stem and fluted, cushion-shaped finial. The front of the lower stem is later engraved "IH".

The marks are just about legible with a good leopard's head bowl mark. The lion passant marks from this period are all distinct and the lion figure on this spoon is clearly that of the 1540's (the mark itself was only introduced for the first time in 1544) and the punch shape that for 1547. The date letter "K" is distinct and the makers mark can just be seen - this appears to be the lower part of the "B" and the central stroke of the "N" for the conjoined "NB" mark for Nicholas Bartholomew - see comparison in photo against the mark shown on page 92 of Jackson's for Nicholas Bartlemew. On page 12 of "London Silver Spoonmakers 1500-1697" Tim Kent suggests that this mark was used by the maker in the period 1545 to 1550. Nicholas Bartholomew was one of the most important spoonmakers of the Tudor period and from 1562 was the master to Patrick Brue who was the next in line of a major dynasty of specialist silversmiths.

For a 475-year old spoon, the condition is remarkably good with an expected antique patina and good, crisp finial. The bowl retains its original shape without loss, however there are a number of minor dings.

1547 was a tumultuous year with the death of two powerful European monarchs - Francis I of France and Henry VIII of England. In England, the nine-year-old son of Henry VIII took over as King Edward VI, but he was a sickly child and died just six years later. This spoon was made during the first year of Edward VI's reign (1547-53) and not long after the death of his father Henry VIII.