A late 15th century silver-gilt Seal-top spoon

A late 15th century silver-gilt Seal-top spoon,

probably French circa 1470, and assayed in London in 1530, also marked with mark of a tent,

slender fig-shaped bowl, faceted tapering stem with a fluted baluster seal-top finial, length 15.9cm, approx. weight 1.2oz.

Provenance: A Private Collection. Other spoons from this collection have been sold in these rooms 25/26 April 2017, (lots 1180-1190), and 26 October 2016 lots 1189-1205.

The Harvey Clarke Collection.

Illustrated and discussed in How, G., in collaboration with How J., English and Scottish Silver Spoons, Volume Three, Addendum, pages 13013, plate 6.

They write:

'The leopard's head in the bowl is that used in London from 1528-4: the date letter struck on one of the back facets of the stem near the bowl is the London date-letter for 1530, and the maker's mark, struck on the back facet and almost touching the date letter, is a 'tent' and is not elsewhere recorded on English silver. We are satisfied that the marks are genuine and the spoon is genuine, though we are not certain that the finial is original, and we consider that the spoon can be accepted as a freak, probably made by a Continental craftsman working in this country.'

We are very grateful to Tim Kent who has inspected the spoon and has given us his opinion on it. He writes:

1. The modern provenance is excellent, Harvey Clarke and the How's, therefore the spoon cannot be a modern imposition.

2. The evidence makes it very clear that foreign goldsmiths were working in London, (and indeed provincial centres such as Taunton), from an early date, and in addition foreign spoons were circulating here.

3. I agree with the Hows that this spoon is entirely genuine, and I go further to say that, in my opinion it is in original state, probably made in France circa 1470, and submitted for assay in London at the later date of 1530. In this conclusion, I differ slightly from the How's.

4. The stem marks are of typical continental character (maker probably French).

5. I am sure that the gilding is original, and the degree of wear is exactly what one expects.

6. I am very largely in agreement with the Hows: the spoon is unusual, but this does not detract from its credit. I see no evidence of any later addition to the seal, and the gilding is, I consider, entirely original. There is no evidence of any later re-working.