Apostle spoon: St. Philip
1592/93
Medium
Silver, partly gilded
Dimensions
Overall: 2 × 7 3/16 in. (5.1 × 18.3 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Silver
Culture
British, London
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. James B. Mabon, 1967
Accession Number
67.166.7
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the late Elizabethan era, London silversmith William Cawdell crafted this exquisite *Apostle spoon: St. Philip* around 1592–93, a hallmark of British metalwork from the period. Measuring just over 7 inches long, the spoon is made of silver with selective gilding—gold applied to enhance key details like the apostle's robes or halo—creating a luxurious contrast that symbolized wealth and piety. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum Art's European Sculpture andative Arts collection, it reflects the high craftsmanship of London's goldsmiths, who marked their work with hallmarks for authenticity and...