Silver Buddha Knop Spoon, c.1640 Plymouth

This is a very rare example of a West Country silver Buddha Knop spoon.

This form of spoon is associated with the city of Plymouth and the RC maker's mark to the reverse stem is for Richard Chandler who was working in Plymouth during the first half of the 17th century - see page 75 of "West Country Spoons" by Tim Kent. This ties in nicely with the main known period of production for Buddha Knops being during the 1640's.

The cast, gilt, figural finial is wearing a helmet-style headdress with a knop and a three-part robe of the type worn during certain Buddhist ceremonies. Similar examples are shown in David Constable's "Silver Spoons of Britain 1200-1710" as figures 3.17 to 3.22 and as figure 40 in "West Country Spoons".

This Charles I period spoon is in very good order with a particularly well-detailed finial that retains its original gilding and sits at the terminal of a flattened hexagonal shank. The fig-shaped bowl retains its full, original shape with a thick rim and is clearly stamped with a trefoil mark. Additionally, to the reverse stem a small fleur-de-lys can be found alongside the R.C maker's mark.

An excellent spoon in fine condition with a lovely antique patina.