APOSTLE SPOONS
The antiquity and rarity of Apostle spoons renders them objects of interest to collectors and of considerable value as curiosities. The precise date of their origin seems obscure; but they would appear to have been primarily used for baptismal gifts. The spoon itself had for many ages taken this part in baptismal festivities, and it was not only as being the most useful domestic implement, and one which a child would require first in his after life, that it was singled out as a suitable present on the occasion of his baptism; it was held, besides, in antiquarian reverence as being the earliest domestic implement mentioned in the world's history. The ancient Egyptians used neither knives nor forks, nor any substitute corresponding to the chopsticks of the Chinese, but usually ate with the fingers ; the spoon, however, was used by them for soups and other liquids. These spoons were made chiefly of ivory, bone, wood, or bronze, and were of various sizes and shapes. The handles were sometimes formed into a hook, for the purpose of hanging them on a nail or peg when not in use; or decorated with designs of lotus flowers, animals, or human heads or figures. The idea of decorating the handles was thus conceived at a very early period.
Made in the first instance for utility, the spoon, as many another simple article, thus early became subject to ornamentation, and as soon as ornamentation appears, an object to which it is applied comes to be regarded as of art value. The earliest spoons in England were probably of wood or pewter, but as knowledge of metal working increased, the spoon, like many other articles of everyday use, appeared in precious metals with elaborate ornamentation. Five or six hundred years ago a gold or silver spoon was regarded as an essential amongst the possessions of persons of rank, and few people made a will which did not contain mention of a spoon of some value bequeathed to widow or other member of the family. The spoon, too, was the earliest article of plate to receive the English Hall-mark.
The evolution of the Apostle spoon, both in England and on the Continent, thus becomes apparent. From a handle ornamented at the end with a spear or diamond point, or by some floral design, such as a pineapple, cone, or acorn, when presented as a baptismal gift the figure of the saint after whom the child was named, or to whom the child was dedicated, or the patron saint of the donor, sometimes became its terminal ornamentation. A figure or head of the Virgin Mary was also sometimes seen. It then became customary for persons who were in a position to afford it to present a child with a set of twelve, bearing figures of the twelve Apostles, or of thirteen, the extra one being either a figure of the Saviour, called the " Master Spoon," or of St. Paul.
A will proved in the year 1446 contains a bequest of a spoon ornamented with a head of the Virgin Mary, and it is probable that such a spoon, which came to be known as a Maidenhead spoon, was not designed many years anterior to that date. In the next century they became fairly common.
The date of the first manufacture of a set of Apostle Spoons is estimated at about 1500, and, once introduced, their popularity continued for more than 150 years. Old wills between the years 1493 and 1626 contain several mentions of Apostle spoons. A certain Richard Wills appears to have possessed several sets of twelve and thirteen, and was probably the earliest collector. In an inventory taken in the year 1536 of the effects at Minster Priory, in the Isle of Sheppey, one of the items stands: "xiij spones of Chryst and the xii Apostells, whereof j gilt and the rest sylver with mages gilt." These are only a few records of many which existed.
Although all kinds of ornamented spoons have been the objects of interest to collectors, none, perhaps, have found such favour as Apostle spoons. A complete set has now an extraordinary market value. As recently as 1876 a complete matched silver set of a later date than 1515 were put up to auction by an eminent London firm and fetched no less than £1,000. A set of eight Apostle spoons are recorded as having been sold at Christie, Manson, and Wood's in 1890, and fetched £252. They were originally in the possession of Bishop Whyte, of Winchester. Another set of twelve, six being of date 1524 and the remainder 1553, the latter six having evidently been made to complete the set, were sold in 1892 by the same auctioneers for £400.
The figures are usually represented with the emblem which has become the distinguishing mark of each Apostle in legendary art, thus: 1. St. Peter bears a key or fish; 2. St. Andrew, the transverse or saltire cross upon which he suffered martyrdom ; 3. St. James the Great, the pligrim staff, signifying that he was the first of the Apostles who departed to fulfil his Gospel mission ; 4. St. John, a chalice with a serpent –the cup of sorrow; 5. St. Philip, a cross, which varies in form, it is sometimes small, sometimes high in the form of a T, or takes the form of a tall staff surmounted by a Latin cross, either in reference to his martyrdom or to his conquest over the idolatrous by the power of the Cross; 6. St. Bartholomew, a large butcher's knife, by which implement his martyrdom was accomplished; 7. St.' Thomas, the builder's rule or spear. The former refers to the legend of King Gondoforus to whom St. Thomas was the spiritual architect, the latter to his martyrdom, he having died transfixed with spears. 8. St. Matthew, a purse or wallet or sometimes an axe or spear, the former in reference to his profession, the latter to his martyrdom ; 9. St. James the Less, a club or fuller's bat, with which instruments the infuriated populace of Jerusalem, of which he was bishop, beat out his brains; 10. St. Simon Zelotes, a long saw, he having been sawn asunder at his martyrdom; 11. St. Thaddeus or Jude, a cross, club, halberd, lance, or occasionally a saw, probably relating to his martyrdom, the manner of which a doubt exists; 12. St. Matthias, an axe or halberd, referring to his martyrdom, and 13. St. Paul, a sword, or sometimes two swords, emblematic of his martyrdom and of the good fight.
Occasionally Judas Iscariot was included as the twelfth instead of St. Matthew, and St. Jude was sometimes omitted and his place taken by St. Paul. In a few instances St. Mark and St. Luke have replaced St. Simon and St. Matthias.
In the first volume of Hone's Every-day Book (published in 1826), under St. Paul's Day, January 25, a woodcut is given of a set of twelve Apostle spoons said to be in the possession of the writer of the article which accompanies the woodcut. Their value is supposed to be lessened by the fact of the stems and bowls having been altered somewhat by the silversmith to make them conform in pattern more nearly to the fashion of the day. The stems measure in their altered condition 3½ inches in length from the foot of the Apostle to the commencement of the bowl ; the length of each bowl is 2" inches, and the height of each Apostle is 1 inches. The entire length of each spoon is 7¼ inches. They are of silver. The lightest, which is St. Peter, weighs 1oz. 5dwt. 9grs., the heaviest is St. Bartholomew, weighing 1oz. 9dwt. 4grs.; the collective weight is 16oz. 14dwt. 16grs. The head of each figure is surmounted by a flat, hat-like covering. This was usual with Apostle spoons, and was probably affixed to protect the features from effacement by wear or abrasions.
Many quotations from the older ittenitiurs are given as proof of Apostle spoons being well-known objects in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. A character in Ben Jonson's "Bartholomew Fair," says: "And all this for the hope of a couple of Apostle spoons and a cup to eat caudle in " ; and in Middleton's " Chaste Maid of Cheapside " there is mention of "a faire highstanding cup and two great 'postle spoons–one of them gilt."
Shakespeare, it is true, makes no mention of Apostle spoons in his plays, but an anecdote is told how he, when standing as godfather to one of Jonson's children, was seen by Jonson after the christening to be absorbed in thought. "Why so melancholy. Will ?" quoth Jonson, and to him Shakespeare answered: "Ben. I have been considering a great while what should be the fittest gift for me to bestow upon my godchild, and I have resolved it at last." "I'll give him," said Shakespeare, in answer to Jonson's inquiry what it might be. "I'll give him a dozen good latten spoons, and thou shalt translate them." Latten was the name given to a thin tinned iron, of which spoons and such like domestic articles were frequently made, and used thus was intended as a play on the word Latin. Even if these were not Apostle spoons it is evidence of the custom of a number or set of spoons being presented as a baptismal gift.
Sets of Apostle spoons are comparatively rare nowadays, and when put up for sale are eagerly secured regardless of cost. Single specimens are far more reasonable in their demands on a collector.
A set of twelve, eleven Apostles and a "Master" spoon, was contained in the celebrated Bernal collection. Ralph Bernal, politician and art collector, better known as the latter, died at Eaton-square in 1854. He had amassed a splendid collection of glass, plate, china, and miniatures, and there was an attempt to secure the whole of it for the nation, but the project fell through. It was sold by auction in 4,294 lots, and realised £71,000. The set of Apostle spoons was secured by the late Rev. T. Staniforth, a well-known collector, who also possessed an Apostle spoon dated 1493, the most ancient Hall-marked Apostle spoon known.
Of three of the best-known sets of thirteen in recent years, one was sold at Christie's in 1901 for £1,060. Although not in first-rate condition, the figures being rather worn, they were supposed to be a complete set of the same date, and so attained a very high figure.
A well-known set of thirteen is in the possession of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. The thirteenth spoon bears ; a figure of St. Paul, dated 1515, and is earlier than the others which belong to the year 1566.
Another set is in the possession of the Goldsmiths' Company, having been presented by Mr. George Lambert FSA. In this set St. Matthias takes the place of Judas Iscariot; these are all of the same maker of the year 1626. Many good single specimens of different dates are in the possession of the Innholders' Company, and incomplete sets and single spoons may be met with in almost all art collections; but considering the number of sets which must have been manufactured during the century and a half they were so much in vogue, it is a matter of surprise that complete sets should now be so rare, and that so few comparatively have been preserved in public museums and private collections. That period between the date of an object going out of fashion and the time of its becoming of historical value and interest to the collector seems to have been particularly destructive of Apostle spoons.
H.H.N.
Source: The Collector, Containing Articles and Illustrations, Reprinted from The Queen Newspaper, of Interest to the Great Body of Collectors, on China, Engravings, Etc. - Volume 3 - 1907
Trev.