Gilt Seal Top Spoon, 1607

This is an outstanding quality silver-gilt seal top spoon made during the reign of James I by one of the most important spoon makers of the early 17th century, William Cawdell. It has a terrific weight just shy of 2 troy ounces and a very attractive decorated seal terminal with crisp detail and no engravings to the flat terminal plate.

The competitive price for such a superb quality spoon accounts for the fact that the spoon has been later gilded all over for decorative enhancement, however it appears to have been mercury gilt and will probably be 18th century in date. There are neither damage nor repairs and the bowl tip remains thick throughout. The hallmarks are excellent too with a clear "C enclosing a W" maker's mark. A very satisfying spoon.