St Paul Silver Apostle Spoon, London 1608 by John Round

This is a fine James I period silver apostle spoon with a feeling of high quality from the hefty weight and superb modelling.

The spoon features a well made representation of St Paul to the finial. St Paul is the patron saint of London and is seen holding a sword in his right hand. He has a spoked nimbus to the head which is slightly pushed down all around the edges.

The fig-shaped bowl is in fabulous condition with a nice, even thickness all around and a crisply struck leopard's head mark which curiously is struck side-on and was no doubt an error on the part of the puncher at Goldsmiths Hall. The reverse side of the bowl bears late 18th century engraved initials in script, whilst the thick hexagonal stem bears the remainder of the hallmarks, including the scarce "pair of compasses" maker's mark that has been appropriately attributed to John Round.

The spoon just oozes high quality with a weight of 2 troy ounces, a nice balanced feel in the hand, well made apostle and fine condition. A great example.

John Round was apprenticed to the important silver spoonmaker Patrick Brue in 1589 and became free in 1598. He was an integral king pin to one of the most dominant line of specialist spoomakers to continue through the 17th century via ongoing apprentices Henry Good, Richard Stonehill and John Smith and in to the 18th century with makers such as Lawrence Coles, William Matthew, Thomas Issod, William Petley, Benjamin Watts and others all tracing their spoonmaking lineage back to John Round. This dynasty of spoonmakers continued through the 18th century and in to the 19th century through makers like Ebenezer Coker, Eley and Fearn and Chawner & Company.