Wm Frend Silver Apostle Spoon, St Bartholomew 1622

This is a fine quality James I period silver apostle spoon made by the specialist spoonmaker William Frend in 1622.

St Bartholomew with his emblematic flaying knife in his right hand is depicted in the cast finial. The apostle is well-detailed, wears a spoked nimbus to his head and retains the original gilding. For reassurance of authenticity, the "v-joints" on either side of the stem are visible and in good order. The spoon has a typical hexagonal shaft to the handle and a good, fig-shaped bowl.

There is an excellent leopard's head mark to the bowl and a good set of hallmarks to the reverse side in cluding the "WF" maker's mark. William Frend had been apprenticed to the spoonmaker John Jermyn in 1605 and in turn was master to further specialists including Thomas Brothwell and Richard Crosse. 

Given its 400+ year age, this spoon is in fine condition with a good patina. The bowl rim is a little thin from use, however and importantly there is no loss of shape and the bowl profile remains true (see photos).