Dorchester Seal-top Spoon, 1654

This is a superb example of a seal top spoon from the Dorset county town of Dorchester. This spoon has a fabulous, large cast and gilt baluster -shaped seal terminal. the flat plate to the terminal bears original dot-prick engraved betrothal initials "WD" over "WG" over "1654". The spoon has an excellent deep bowl, that with its slightly elongated shape is showing signs of the changes that took place in spoon evolution during the 1650's and 60's, as the style of spoon trended in London towards puritan and then trefid spoons.

The spoon bears four marks - one to the bowl and three to the reverse stem. This maker's mark is a conjoined "RC" within a Tudor rose that has been attributed to Robert Coker.