{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O104169"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O104169/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2008BV3227/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2008BV3227/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2008BV3227","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KB4716","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KC9783","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2019LX2079","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O104169/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O104169","accessionNumber":"M.71-1921","objectType":"Apostle spoon","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Spoons depicting the 12 apostles (messengers of Christ) were popular throughout the 16th century. Individual apostle spoons were sometimes given as Christening gifts but intended for use. Groups depicting all 12 apostles were more likely to be owned by wealthier members of society (noblemen were more likely to have several dozen spoons in various shapes;  a tradesman would have about six to 12).  Few complete sets have survived. During the Reformation many religious images were destroyed, and silver was melted down and re-used.\r\n\r\nSt John the Evangelist, the figure on the finial of this spoon, was one of four who described the life of Jesus in the gospels (with Matthew, Mark and Luke). By the 13th century, it was common to depict St John holding a chalice with a serpent or dragon rising from it. Many believe this refers to an incident where John was handed a cup of poisoned wine, which he blessed, and the poison rose out of the cup in the shape of a serpent. On this spoon, St John’s hand is raised in a blessing and he holds a cup out of which a creature emerges.","physicalDescription":"Apostle spoon depicting St. John with deep fig-shaped bowl inscribed on the back with the initials IG, and a thick, tapering stem ending with a moulded capital, on which the figure stands. The figure holds a chalice with the left hand, out of which rises a creature, and gives the benediction with the right. The nimbus is engraved with rays.\r\n\r\nThe bowl and stem were hammered, the 'knop' or finial, cast. The finial was then soldered to the stem, and attached using a 'V' shaped joint, characteristic of London spoonmakers of this period.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"Silver","id":"AAT11029"}],"techniques":[{"text":"hammered","id":"AAT54098"},{"text":"casting","id":"AAT53104"},{"text":"soldering","id":"AAT53949"},{"text":"mercury-gilding","id":"x39207"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Silver, with gilt finial","categories":[{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Eating","id":"THES48963"},{"text":"Christianity","id":"THES48978"},{"text":"Religion","id":"THES48900"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2008BV3227","2017KB4716","2017KC9783","2019LX2079"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"62 (VA)","id":"THES49739"},"free":"","case":"CA11","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Spoon","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1514-1515","earliest":"1514-05-19","latest":"1515-05-18"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"18.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"5.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"maximum width","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"2.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Weight","value":"0.06","unit":"kg","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Measured for the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"A padlock or a gate (?)","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"Sponsor's mark (unidentified)","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""},{"content":"Inscribed I G","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"owner's initials","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""},{"content":"Leopard's head","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"Mark for London","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""},{"content":"Lower case gothic 'r'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"Date letter for 1514-15","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"Purchase - £400 with M.65-71-1921\nH.D. Ellis, 7 Roland Gardens\nAcquisition RF: 21 / 1199\r\n\r\nThe London mark is struck inside the bowl near to the stem, whilst the date letter and the sponsor's mark are on the reverse on the stem. This arrangement is typical of the period.","historicalContext":"Spoons depicting the twelve apostles (messengers of Christ) were popular throughout the sixteenth century. Individual apostle spoons were sometimes given as Christening gifts but intended for use. Groups depicting all twelve apostles were more likely to be owned by wealthier members of society (noblemen were more likely to have several dozen spoons in various shapes,  a tradesman would have aboutsix to twelve ).  Few complete sets have survived. During the Reformation many religious images were destroyed, and silver was melted down and re-used.","briefDescription":"Apostle spoon depicting St. John, silver with gilt finial, London, 1514-15","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"How, Commander G.E.P <u>English and Scottish Silver Spoons: Medieval to Late Stuart and Pre-Elizabethan Hall-Marks on English Plate</u> vol II, Curwen Press, Plaistow, 1953, plate 16."},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Peter Brown, ed.  <u>British Cutlery: An Illustrated History of Design, Evolution and Use</u>  York Civic Trust/Philip Wilson Publishers Ltd., 2001"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"St. John the Evangelist","id":"N935"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"apostles","id":"x35314"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Apostle Spoon, St John\r\nGilded finial\r\nLondon, around 1514\r\nMark, a padlock, unidentified\r\nEngraved IG on the reverse. The London date letter sequence began in 1478. Many goldsmiths adopted device marks rather than initials until around 1600.\r\nM.71-1921.","date":{"text":"1999","earliest":"1999-01-01","latest":"1999-12-31"}},{"text":"Apostle Spoons\r\nSpoons were used to dip into communal dishes. Usually guests brought their own, but sometimes the host would provide a set. These two spoons are apostle spoons, so called because they are decorated with the figures of Jesus's twelve followers. They were often sold in sets of twelve (or thirteen, to include Christ himself).\r\nSilver spoons were precious items, treaured as heirlooms and presented as gifts.\r\n\r\nWith finial figure of St James the Great\r\n1450-1500\r\nEngland,\r\nPartially gilded silver\r\nInitials 'IK RM' engraved on the back\r\nMuseum no. M.70-1921\r\n\r\nWith finial figure of St John the Evangelist\r\n1514-15\r\nEngland, London\r\nPartially gilded silver\r\nLondon hallmark and maker’s mark; initials ‘IG’ engraved on the back\r\nMuseum no. M.71-1921","date":{"text":"2010","earliest":"2010-01-01","latest":"2010-12-31"}}],"partNumbers":["M.71-1921"],"accessionNumberNum":"71","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1921,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LN8479","2019LU2811","2019LX0656"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-08","recordCreationDate":"2004-09-10","availableToBook":false}}