A HENRY IV SILVER DIAMOND-POINT SPOON

The mark in the bowl is described by Commander and Mrs. How as a 'Syrian' leopard's head. Like the 'Indian' mark which is discussed in lot 312, How describes this mark, op. cit., vol. III, p. 56, noting it's distinctive features as 'wide skull-like forehead, fatter cheeks with downcast look'. The mark is usually dated as probably second half of the 14th century. The present spoon is the only one in the collection which is so marked.

DIAMOND POINT SPOONS

Diamond point spoons, so called for the facetted shape of their finial, which How suggests (op. cit. vol. I, p. 161) is based on the prick or goad spur which was common in the 13th century, were first made at the end of the 13th century, eventually replacing the acorn as the most common form. The earliest example with full London marks is believed to date from 1493 but examples are known with several versions of the early Leopard head mark. A set of 'ii dozen and vi spoyns with dyamond poyntes' are recorded in the will of a Richard Morton of 1487 and cited by Timothy Kent in his introduction to The Benson Collection of Early Silver Spoons, p. 3.