The spoon which is here illustrated is the property of a daughter of the Rev. Mr. Johnstone, minister of Leuchars, in Fifeshire. It was found in the south of Scotland about forty years ago when digging turves at a considerable depth below the peat. It is of unusual form, and had it not been for the hall-marks on it, would probably have been set down as of foreign origin. It will be seen at once that it presents some remarkable characteristics. In the first place, the bowl or "spoonself" is almost of mediaeval form, corresponding in shape to the form of the "spoonself" of an English apostle or other spoon of the sixteenth century. The "Steele" or handle of the spoon has a much later appearance, and is of very curious form, especially in the shape it assumes at the upper part, while, on turning the spoon over and examing the back, it will be seen that the lower end on the handle is extended over the back of the bowl as is usual with the later type of spoons known as rat-tail spoons, from this feature. On the upper end of the front of the handle are engraved in a circle the initial letters S above I M, but to whom they refer is of course quite unknown, and probably can never be ascertained. Below this, in a compartment which seems to be shaped to fit it, is a device possibly meant for a tun or barrel, but whether it is more than a sort of accidental embellishment is open to doubt. These various points mentioned place the spoon in a category quite by itself. The spoon measures 6 3/4 inches in length, the bowl or spoonself being 1 15/16 inches in width across the broadest part, by 2 5/16 in length.
On the back of the handle are the hallmarks, which fortunately fix the date and origin of the spoon. They are as follows: (1) A long zigzag, being the mark caused by scraping the silver for assay; (2) a monogram of D.P. - this is the mark of David Palmer, deacon of the Edinburgh Craft in 1611 and 1612; (3) the castle mark for Edinburgh; (4) the initials G.K. linked together in a shaped shield, being the mark of Gilbert Kirkewoode, goldsmith of Edinburgh. These marks give us definitely the place and date of this curious and interesting piece of old Scotch plate.
The editor desires to thank the Rev. Mr. Johnstone for entrusting the spoon to him for examination. He would also like to add that excellent cabinet-sized photographs of the spoon can be obtained from Mr. Cleer S. Alger, Diss, Norfolk.
Source: The Antiquary - Volume 32 - 1896
Trev.