Live Auction 1126Centuries of Style
A HENRY VII SILVER APOSTLE SPOON
Lot 329 THE BENSON COLLECTION
(LOTS 301-340)

A HENRY VII SILVER APOSTLE SPOON

LONDON, 1490, MAKER'S MARK SLIGHTLY OVERSTRIKING THE DATE LETTER, TRADITIONALLY DESCRIBED AS A GOTHIC L

Closed4 June 2013

Price Realised

GBP 59,475

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A HENRY VII SILVER APOSTLE SPOON
LONDON, 1490, MAKER'S MARK SLIGHTLY OVERSTRIKING THE DATE LETTER, TRADITIONALLY DESCRIBED AS A GOTHIC L
The fig-shaped bowl with facetted slightly tapering handle, terminating in a finial cast as St James the Less, holding in his left hand the fullers bat, supported on a waisted and reeded pediment, the circular nimbus engraved with rays, marked in the bowl with leopard's head, the back of the handle with date letter and maker's mark
7 1/8 in. (18.2 cm.) long
1 oz. 9 dwt. (45 gr.)

The Benson Collection, probably acquired after 1957.

Specialist note

This apostle spoon is one of six which were believed by Commander and Mrs How to have originally been from a set which are recorded as the earliest apostle spoons marked with a full set of London hallmarks.

The other known examples from the set are as follows:

The Master:
The Collection of Sir Thomas Drew.


?St. Jude:
Mr. L. West; Christie's, London, 28 April 1910, Lot 67.
J. P. Morgan, 1937 inventory.
The Morgan Collection; Christie's, New York, 26 October 1982, lot 59.
How, op. cit., vol. 2, p. 50, pl. 3.
Sir Charles Jackson, The History of Old English Plate, London, 1967 ed., vol. 2, p. 503, figs. 614-617).


St. Andrew:
The Staniforth Collection.
The Jackson Collection, National Museum of Wales, Cardiff.
How, op. cit. vol. 2, p. 48.


?St. Simon Zelotes:
probably Christie's, London, 5 June 1928, lot 94.
Asprey, exhibited, London, Antique Dealer's Fair, London, 1947.
How, op. cit. vol. 2 , p. 48.


St. James the Greater:
The Stirling Maxwell Collection.
Christie's, London, 14 July 1993, lot 114.