Taunton Apostle Spoon, 1649

Having served his apprenticeship in London, Thomas Dare became a major spoon-maker in the south west of England during the second quarter of the 17th century. This silver apostle spoon has a gilt, cast apostle terminal with a large flat disc nimbus upon which are dot-prick engraved betrothal initials with the date 1649 - being a staunch Royalist, this would have been made during a dark year for Dare as it was in 1649 that King Charles I was beheaded.

This good-sized spoon is of typical provincial construction with a deep fig-shaped bowl, It is clearly marked with the "T" for Taunton to the inside of the bowl and twice to the reverse of the stem where they bookend the "D" mark for Dare (see mark 37 on page 83 of "West Country Silver Spoons & their Makers" by Tim Kent for the same mark).

The spoon is in fine condition - the bowl retains its full original shape albeit somewhat scratched from use and with two very small dings. All-in-all a great example of an English Civil War period provincial spoon.