Transitional Seal Top Spoon, 1674

dscn5676 2
dscn5674 1 dscn5677 1 dscn5678 1 dscn5680 1 dscn5681 dscn5683 dscn5679 dscn5676 2

Sold

Spoon - Seal top - London 1674 by Nathaniel Brassey (possibly) - 17.3cm long; 58g - HF/5106

Sorry, this item is out of stock.

This is a very interesting Charles II period spoon in that it bridges the transition between the earliest forms of English spoon and the evolution in design that occurred in later 17th century spoons. The earlier spoons, of which apostle and seal top spoons are the most frequently encountered, tend to have fig-shaped bowls and hexagonal stems. This seal top spoon is influenced by the changes that took place in the mid-17th century where the bowls became more elongated and the stems flattened out - as can be seen with puritan and later trefid spoons. How describes and illustrates two similar examples on pages 250-253 in Volume 1 of "English & Scottish Silver Spoons", where he notes the rarity and higher realised prices than older seal tops.

 

In addition to the decorative seal terminal, this spoon still has vestiges of the earlier form - the stem remains hexagonal in profile despite being flattened and the bowl still bears the leopard's head crowned in the traditional manner. The markings to the stem preclude a conversion from the puritan and slip top styles, as these forms of spoon were date marked to the top section of the stem to precisely prevent this type of conversion and so distinguish themselves from authentic spoons with cast finials.

 

This is a fine quality spoon with a good hefty weight and it remains in excellent condition with a thick bowl tip and original patina. The only minor issue to report is that the flate plate to the terminal is slightly bent. The hallmarks to the reverse are good with a clear lion passant and a good "R" date letter (n.b. it could be the "B" date letter for 1659). The maker's mark is a little worn at the edges, but can be clearly read as "NB" over devices.

 

Nathaniel Brassey (or Bracey) was the master to the specialist spoonmaker Thomas Tysoe - see "London Silver Spoonmakers 1500-1697" by Tim Kent (page 49). He was the likely owner of this mark - "NB" with a mullet and 2 pellets below - which is also shown in Jackson's (Pickford edition) as the 5th entry from the bottom on page 125.