William Cawdell Silver Apostle Spoon, 1620 St Matthias

Dating from the final year of William Cawdell's career, this James I silver apostle spoon depicts St Matthias to the terminal.

The gilt, cast figure of St Matthias portrays him with his right-hand holding the axe emblem which represents his martyrdom. The nimbus above his head features an uncommonly seen double cross. The spoon has the expected tapering, hexagonal stem and a deep, fig-shaped bowl.

The back of the stem is engraved 1566 which may point to a previous mis-reading of the date letter - an italic letter "i". The date letter is struck at the edge of the stem and although part is missing, it appears to be the "n" for 1620 which also fits in with William Cawdell's working period (1586-1621). The maker's mark is clearly a "C" enclosing a "W" for Cawdell who was the most important spoonmaker of the late Elizabethan and Jacobean periods.

This early 17th century apostle spoon is in fine condition with a full unworn bowl and good patina. The reverse side of the bowl is engraved with a mid-18th century betrothal triangle where the upper "M" is the first letter of the newly wed's surname and their first names begin with "S" and "E".

William Cawdell was apprenticed to Patrick Brue in 1576 and was an important link in the master/apprenticeship dynasty of London spoonmakers.His output was prolific and the quality of his spoons were the best of the period. His distinctive style of maker's mark was later copied by his apprentices (James Cluatt, Martin Cottrell and John Jermyn) that succeeded him.