Spencer Reeve Apostle Spoon, Bath 1655

This is a very rare silver apostle spoon made during the mid-17th century in Bath. This spoon is in fine condition with apostle finial to the terminal. The apostle is fairly crude in manufacture, however the axe device he holds clearly identifies him as St. Matthias. The apostle wears a plain nimbus for a saint and bears the original dot-pricked initials "RC 1655 MC". These dated betrothal initials can firmly date the manufcature of the spoon to the Commonwealth period.

The spoon bears four examples of the "SR" monogram mark in shaped punch shown in "West Country Silver Spoons and their Makers" as m.125 (page 126). Spencer Reeve was working in Bath during the first half of the 17th century. He died in 1662 and so this spoon would have been made towards the end of his career.