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Item: Spoon Description: Seal Top Hallmark: Barnstaple c. 1600 by Thomas Mathew Dimensions: 167mm; 44grams Comments: A fine quality late 16th or very early 17th century seal top spoon with a single mark to the bowl. The spoon is in fine condition with a full bowl (even retaining the thick rim) and a superb gilt seal. There are no engravings to the spoon, but of minor note, there are some scratching/pitting to the reverse of the bowl. We suggest that the spoon is of Barnstaple origin and was possibly made by Thomas Mathew. Here are a few of the thoughts that lead us to this suggestion. The spoon has a west country feel to it and the form of the seal resembles the casting seen on spoons from the Taunton (e.g the Robert Wade and Thomas Dare spoons of c. 1630 illustrated on page 15 figure 28 of "West Country Silver Spoons & Their Makers" by Tim Kent) and Barnstaple areas (e.g. the decorated Thomas Mathew spoon of c. 1565 illustrated on page 20 figure 41 of "West Country..."). The mark within the bowl resembles a pomegranite or some other form of fruit. Several Barnstaple spoon makers, notably Thomas Mathew and Peter Quick used a berry or fruitlet mark (see Appendix B in "West Country ..." and figures 19 and 21 in "Barnstaple Silver & It's Makers" by Tim Kent). According to Jacksons, Thomas Mathew possibly had connections with the Borough of Tregoney in Cornwall. The Seal of this borough bears similarities to the mark within the bowl and can be seen at this link:- http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=50610 (click the figure entitled "Seals of Borough Towns, &c. 3" for an enlargement). However, Kent states that their is no evidence that Mathews had a link with Tregoney in "Barnstaple Silver..." An enigmatic, top quality seal top spoon worthy of further research!
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