Spoon
1450-1500 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Spoons depicting the 12 apostles (messengers of Christ) were popular throughout the 16th century. Individual apostle spoons were sometimes given as Christening gifts but intended for use. Groups depicting all 12 apostles were more likely to be owned by wealthier members of society (noblemen were more likely to have several dozen spoons in various shapes; a tradesman would have about six to 12). Few complete sets have survived. During the Reformation many religious images were destroyed, and silver was melted down and re-used.
This spoon depicts St James the Great, one of the original 12 apostles whom Jesus sent to preach his gospel to the world. His brother was St John the Evangelist who appears on another apostle spoon in the Museum’s collection (M.71-1921). St James is often shown with a pilgrim’s staff and wallet. Despite having been killed in Jerusalem in 44, St James became associated in medieval legend with Compostela in Spain, which became a centre for pilgrimage through association with the saint.
This spoon depicts St James the Great, one of the original 12 apostles whom Jesus sent to preach his gospel to the world. His brother was St John the Evangelist who appears on another apostle spoon in the Museum’s collection (M.71-1921). St James is often shown with a pilgrim’s staff and wallet. Despite having been killed in Jerusalem in 44, St James became associated in medieval legend with Compostela in Spain, which became a centre for pilgrimage through association with the saint.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Silver-gilt |
| Brief description | Silver Spoon with gilded finial in the form of St. James the Great, England, second half 15th century |
| Physical description | Silver apostle spoon with a gilded finial in the form of a figure of St. James the Great. The large fig-shaped bowl of the spoon has pricked initials (I.K and R.M) on the back. The six-sided stem ends in a moulded capital that serves as a pedestal for the figure of St. James. He holds a staff with a large wallet attached. His sloping nimbus has a petal design on the underside and a dove on the upper side. This object has no hallmarks. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | 'T.K./ R.M' (Ownership marks, pricked initials on the back of the bowl. These probably date from the seventeenth century.) |
| Gallery label |
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| Object history | Purchased from H.D Ellis from the Ellis Collection. |
| Historical context | Spoons depicting the twelve apostles (messengers of Christ) were popular throughout the sixteenth century. Individual apostle spoons were sometimes given as Christening presents but intended for use. Groups depicting all twelve apostles were more likely to be owned by wealthier members of society (noblemen were more likely to have several dozen spoons in various shapes, a tradesman would have about six to twelve ). Few complete sets have survived. During the Reformation many religious images were destroyed, and silver was melted down and re-used. |
| Production | This object has no hallmarks. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Spoons depicting the 12 apostles (messengers of Christ) were popular throughout the 16th century. Individual apostle spoons were sometimes given as Christening gifts but intended for use. Groups depicting all 12 apostles were more likely to be owned by wealthier members of society (noblemen were more likely to have several dozen spoons in various shapes; a tradesman would have about six to 12). Few complete sets have survived. During the Reformation many religious images were destroyed, and silver was melted down and re-used. This spoon depicts St James the Great, one of the original 12 apostles whom Jesus sent to preach his gospel to the world. His brother was St John the Evangelist who appears on another apostle spoon in the Museum’s collection (M.71-1921). St James is often shown with a pilgrim’s staff and wallet. Despite having been killed in Jerusalem in 44, St James became associated in medieval legend with Compostela in Spain, which became a centre for pilgrimage through association with the saint. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.70-1921 |
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| Record created | November 2, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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