Silver-gilt Seal Top Spoon, 1662 by Jeremy Johnson

Weighing 2 troy ounces, this is a fabulous quality Charles II silver seal top spoon that was presumably made for a very wealthy client of the specialist spoonmaker Jeremy Johnson. It has a superb baluster seal terminal that still retains its fine detail. The spoon has a lovely, fig-shaped bowl with a thick rim and is engraved with an 18th century double-headed eagle crest to the middle complete with coronet and motto "DEO DATA". The all-over-gilding was probably added at the same time that the crest was engraved. 

Dating from just two years after the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660, the spoon has a great set of hallmarks including the leopard's head to the bowl and the lion passant, date letter and II maker's mark to the stem. This is a fine spoon with lots of interest and a feeling of very high quality in the hand.