571 - Figural brass spoon, twisted handle with figure of a saint, nimbus, beard, book and staff

Figural brass spoon, twisted handle with figure of a saint, nimbus, beard, book and staff Brass, figural spoon, unmarked, teardrop-shaped bowl, twisted handle with figure of a saint, the standing figure with nimbus and long beard in a richly folded robe, holding a book before the chest and grasping with the other hand a long staff resting on a stone. Condition commensurate with age, bowl dented. L. 17.5 cm. Spoons with figural handles have a long tradition; a well-known form is the apostle spoon, whose handle terminal depicts one of the twelve apostles. Apostle spoons were given as christening presents, usually as single pieces, and a set additionally included a spoon with Christ, reserved for the master of the house. In Christian art, saints are shown with the nimbus, also called halo, which on icons was often made as a separate mount of gilt silver.