A pair of Elizabeth I West Country silver Apostle spoons

A pair of Elizabeth I West Country silver Apostle spoons, St. Simon Zelotes and James The Less,

by Thomas Matthew, Barnstaple circa 1580,

fig-shaped bowl, the reverse engraved 'IG' over 'K', faceted tapering stem, gilded Apostle finials, each with a pierced ray of glory nimbus, lengths 17.2cm, approx. weight 2.7oz. (2)

Provenance: A Private Collection.

For a pair from the same set with the same scratch initials, and with the finials of St Peter and St. Thomas see: How, G., in collaboration with How J., English and Scottish Silver Spoons, Volume Two, Chapter III, Section II, pages 138-139. Provenance The Acland Collection.

Another pair from the set is illustrated and discussed in Kent, T., Barnstaple Silver and Its Makers, J.H. Bourdon-Smith Limited, 1995, page 9 Figure 15.