Elizabethan Antique Silver Seal Top Spoon, 1588

This is a rare antique silver seal top spoon from the reign of Elizabeth I and made in the year of her greatest achievement - the defeat of the Spanish Armada.

This Elizabethan silver seal top spoon features a cast, hexagonal, cushion-shaped seal finial that is diagnostic of spoons from the 16th century and as one would expect can be clearly seen to be joined to the stem with a V-notch. In addition to the finial, the spoon also portrays a deep, fig-shaped bowl and a hexagonal stem - both typical of the period. 

The leopard's head crowned mark to the bowl remains in good order and the stamps to the reverse show a lion passant and a clear date letter "L"for 1588. The maker's mark is present but indistinct.

This 430+ year old spoon remains in terrific condition with a good, unworn bowl, little wear to the finial and a fine, all over antique patina.

The spoon was made in the year that King Philip II of Spain's fleet of 140 ships and 30,000 men set sail to overthrow Queen Elizabeth I of England. Lead by Sir Francis Drake, the much smaller English navy thwarted the attack and safeguarded Elizabeth's reign.