Apostle Spoon with St. Thomas or St. Matthew Finial
ca. 1661
Classification
cutlery
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Museum purchase through gift of Joseph Holtzman and from General Acquisitions Endowment Fund
Accession Number
2006-7-1
About this artwork
With a long slender handle rectangular in section, terminating in a slightly oval bowl. Handle tapering slightly and terminating in finial of cast figure of an apostle apparently holding a carpenter's square, generally associated with St. Thomas, although earlier representations of St. Matthew also showed him with such a square.
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...