Willis Museum
Market Place
Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 7QD
tel 0845 603 5635
The home of the Tichborne Spoons, also known as the Tichborne Celebrities, these are a set of twelve silver gilt spoons bearing the maker’s mark of William Cawdell and London hallmarks for 1592.
The spoons were made by William Cawdell. He was a specialist spoon maker whose energy and ambition led to trouble a few years later when the Assay Office, either overwhelmed by his output or perhaps as a result of corruption, failed at first to recognise that some of his work was of sub-standard silver. Despite the penalties imposed on him for a succession of offences, Cawdell became Warden of the Goldsmiths Company in 1621.
Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm
Saturday 10am to 4pm
Admission: Free
http://www3.hants.gov.uk/museum/willis-museum.htm
http://www3.hants.gov.uk/museum/willis- ... spoons.htm
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