Norwich Silver Seal Top Spoon, 1640 Arthur Haselwood

Norwich silver is extremely rare and this seal top spoon is a fine example. During the 17th century Norwich assay office used a logical date letter system and this spoon has been cleanly struck with the date letter "R" for 1640. 

Made by Arthur Haselwood, who was probably the most important Norwich silversmith, this is a fine quality Caroline era silver spoon with a large decorated baluster finial atop the hexagonal stem. The hallmarks are all in good legible condition with a particularly fine example of the bowl mark featuring a rose crowned and the marks on the stem (reading up from the bowl) are the "AH" maker's mark, the Norwich city mark depicting a lion and castle and the date letter "R".

This very rare Charles I period East Anglian spoon is in fine condition - the fig-shaped bowl is lovely with a deep profile as would be expected for a spoon of this period. There is a little wear to the decoration on the finial, but overall the spoon is fine!