Description
Suite of four chased, engraved and gilt silver apostle spoons. Rounded spoon on reverse decorated with fleur-de-lys and interlacing; elaborate handle decorated, on one side, with a figure of an apostle under an arch (Paul, Andrew, John and James the Lesser), on the other, with a coat of arms with mantling and crowned helmet, surmounted by wings and a star, cherub's head on one side and on the other, panelled stem bearing a double-sided inscription in Polish: AT NARODIL . SE . Z . MARIE . PANNY / [...]IE : GENZ : SE : POCZAL . ZDVCHA // S : M : APO . SMRTI . ZIWOT . / . WIECZNY . * . AMEN . * . // GELISTA . TRPIEL . POD . PONTSKIM . PILAT / IZOVVAN . VMRZEL . APOHRZBEN . * . // S : IVDAS : TIELA . ZMRTWIC / WZKKISSENI . end decorated with a figure of Christ blessing and holding the orb. Unidentified but listed hallmarks, import hallmark with weevil. Poland ? late 16th century L. 20.2 cm - Total weight: 259.2 g (small accident to a spoon) The complete series of Apostle spoons numbered twelve. The earliest date from the end of the 15th century, and production seems to have stopped around 1660. It was customary in northern and central European countries to give them as baptismal gifts. Wealthier families had them made in silver, as shown here; a complete set or just one with the saint corresponding to the child's name was given. For more modest families, they were made from less expensive materials, such as pewter or brass. The National Museum in Krakow preserves two very comparable examples with liturgical inscriptions on the handles. It is remarkable to be able to present four from the same series. Works consulted: - A. Bochnak and K. Buczkowski, Decorative Arts in Poland, Warsaw, 1972, cat. 159, p. 202 - M. Rosenberg, Der Goldschmiede Merkzeichen, Berlin, 1928, vol. IV, p. 600
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Suite of four chased, engraved and gilt silver apostle spoons. Rounded spoon on reverse decorated with fleur-de-lys and interlacing; elaborate handle decorated, on one side, with a figure of an apostle under an arch (Paul, Andrew, John and James the Lesser), on the other, with a coat of arms with mantling and crowned helmet, surmounted by wings and a star, cherub's head on one side and on the other, panelled stem bearing a double-sided inscription in Polish: AT NARODIL . SE . Z . MARIE . PANNY / [...]IE : GENZ : SE : POCZAL . ZDVCHA // S : M : APO . SMRTI . ZIWOT . / . WIECZNY . * . AMEN . * . // GELISTA . TRPIEL . POD . PONTSKIM . PILAT / IZOVVAN . VMRZEL . APOHRZBEN . * . // S : IVDAS : TIELA . ZMRTWIC / WZKKISSENI . end decorated with a figure of Christ blessing and holding the orb. Unidentified but listed hallmarks, import hallmark with weevil. Poland ? late 16th century L. 20.2 cm - Total weight: 259.2 g (small accident to a spoon) The complete series of Apostle spoons numbered twelve. The earliest date from the end of the 15th century, and production seems to have stopped around 1660. It was customary in northern and central European countries to give them as baptismal gifts. Wealthier families had them made in silver, as shown here; a complete set or just one with the saint corresponding to the child's name was given. For more modest families, they were made from less expensive materials, such as pewter or brass. The National Museum in Krakow preserves two very comparable examples with liturgical inscriptions on the handles. It is remarkable to be able to present four from the same series. Works consulted: - A. Bochnak and K. Buczkowski, Decorative Arts in Poland, Warsaw, 1972, cat. 159, p. 202 - M. Rosenberg, Der Goldschmiede Merkzeichen, Berlin, 1928, vol. IV, p. 600
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