1665.
Showing changing form of bowl and handle.
(At Victoria and Albert Museum.)
It was apparently the custom in Tudor days to offer a set of these spoons, or, if the donor were less rich, a fewer number, as a christening gift. Sometimes only four were given, representing the four evangelists. In modern days the gift of a christening spoon still continues, though the spoon is shorn of its former apostle head. There are many passages in the old English authors referring to this custom, and numerous references in old wills bequeathing sets of these apostle spoons as heirlooms. In Shakespeare’s Henry VIII, v. 2, Cranmer, who declares his unworthiness to act as sponsor—is met with the rebuke from the King: “Come, come, my lord, you’d spare your spoons.”
It is interesting to note the emblems usually found associated with the different apostles. The following list will enable the collector to identify the one from the other:—
- St. Peter—with a key or a fish.
- St. Thomas—a carpenter’s square or a spear.
- St. Andrew—a transverse or saltire cross, on which he suffered martyrdom.
- St. John—a cup with a winged serpent.
- St. Philip—a cross of varying form, usually on a long staff.
- St. Bartholomew—a large knife, because he was flayed in his martyrdom.
- St. Matthew—a wallet or purse, or sometimes a spear or an axe.
- St. Jude—a lance or a saw; sometimes a club.
- St. James the Great—a pilgrim’s staff, as pioneer missionary.
- St. Matthias—a halbert or an axe.
- St. James the Less—a fuller’s pole, because he was killed by a blow on the head dealt him by Simeon the fuller.
- St. Simon Zelotes—a saw, in allusion to his martyrdom.
The thirteenth is either St. Paul with a sword, or the Master spoon, with orb and cross and hand raised in blessing. Sometimes Judas Iscariot takes his place in lieu of one of the others, usually of St. Matthew with the purse; and St. Mark, in some sets, replaces St. Simon; and St. Luke occurs in lieu of St. Matthias in others.
There is no doubt that apostle spoons have been largely sought after by collectors as something desirable and antique. They have accordingly been manufactured by the thousand to meet such a demand, and young collectors cannot be too careful in accepting authenticity by word of mouth from any seller. There are always the museum examples for ready reference. They are in glass cases easy of access, and a close inspection can be made at the Victoria and Albert Museum, which is little short of actually handling the specimens. This remark applies equally to seal-top and other older forms of spoons not frequently handled by the beginner.
