Silver Seal Top Spoon, 1648 Year of Charles I Execution

This is a superb quality Charles I period silver seal top spoon with a great set of hallmarks and made by William Cary who was one of the best spoonmakers of the period. We say "Charles I period", however the spoon was made during the 12-month period in which Charles I was executed and England became a Commonwealth.

This handsome spoon has a very satisying weight of two troy ounces and a large decorated, cast seal top finial with original "TS" initials to the flat plate and vestiges of the original gilding. The large, fig-shaped bowl has been crisply struck with the leopard's head mark for London. The hexagonal stem also has a clear set of hallmarks including Cary's distinctive "WC" mark with pellets and mullet in a shield, the lion passant and the date letter for the period May 1648 to May 1649.

1648 was the year the second part of the English Civil War began and culminated in the execution of Charles I in January 1649.

The spoon is in excellent condition with a good, unworn bowl that retains its thick rim and a beautiful antique patina. A first class example of the type.

William Cary had been apprenticed in 1630 to John Terry before being turned over to his uncle Daniel Cary and became free in 1638. He was part of a long line of spoonmakers that began with Nicholas Bartholomew in the early 16th century and went on to include the major spoonmakers of the 18th century through his apprentice John King.