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Seal top spoon: M.63-1930

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An image of Seal top spoon
Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Silversmith: Venables, Stephen

Entities

Categories

Description

Silver. The fig-shaped bowl is attached to a flattened hexagonal handle, which tapers towards the cast seal top terminal, engraved on the flat top with the monogram 'WV', 'VW' or 'WW'.

Notes

History note: Frank Smart Collection; T.J.G. Duncanson

Legal notes

Given by T.J.G. Duncanson

Measurements and weight

Length: 16.7 cm

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (1930-02-14) by Duncanson, T. J. G.

Dating

17th Century, Mid
Circa 1645 CE - Circa 1660 CE

Note

Venables completed his apprenticeship to Daniel Cary and became free in 1640.

Components of the work

Initials

Materials used in production

Silver

Inscription or legends present

  • Text: leopard's head
  • Location: Inside the bowl, near the join to the handle
  • Method of creation: Struck
  • Type: Hallmark
  • Text: lion passant
  • Location: On the back of the lower stem
  • Method of creation: Struck
  • Type: Hallmark
  • Text: SV
  • Location: On the back of the lower stem
  • Method of creation: Struck
  • Type: Maker's mark

Inscription present: 'WV', 'VW' or 'WW'

  • Location: On the top of the seal top terminal
  • Method of creation: Engraved
  • Type: Inscription

References and bibliographic entries

Related exhibitions

Identification numbers

Accession number: M.63-1930
Primary reference Number: 77326
Old object number: M.2-1930

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Monday 25 March 2024

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "Seal top spoon" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/77326 Accessed: 2025-12-05 08:06:07

Citation for Wikipedia

To cite this record on Wikipedia you can use this code snippet:

{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/77326 |title=Seal top spoon |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-05 08:06:07|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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