A detail of the top of the Henry VIII silver and parcel gilt apostle spoon, marked for Robert Amadas, dated London 1532, sold at Canterbury Auction Galleries for £10,600.
Offered in the Two Day Sale of Fine Art & Antiques on June 7-8, it was estimated at £1500-2000 but competitive bidding pushed the final hammer price up to £10,600.
This spoon with the cast finial of St James the Greater had been consigned by a local private individual, who had inherited them by descent.
There were four phone bidders booked, one commission bidder and also online bidding to start, but the final bids were battled out between two phones. The spoon was purchased by a UK bidder.
Henry VIII silver and parcel gilt apostle spoon, marked for Robert Amadas, dated London 1532, sold at Canterbury Auction Galleries for £10,600.
Any Henrician spoon is a rarity. However, spoon collectors, hallmark aficionados and silver enthusiasts alike had recognised that the rare double-heart hallmark was in fact for Henry VIII’s goldsmith, Robert Amadas (pre 1490-1532).
Trained by his father William, Amadas was admitted as a full member of the Goldsmiths’ Company in 1494 and rose up the ranks to Prime Warden. He also held the post of Master to the Kings Jewel House, a position he retained until his death in April 1532, when he was succeeded by Thomas Cromwell.
A detail of the distinctive maker’s mark of a heart in a conforming heart on the Henry VIII apostle spoon sold at Canterbury Auction Galleries for £10,600.
Court attention
Goldsmiths, particularly members of the London Goldsmiths’ Company, enjoyed better access to the royal household than merchants in most other professions.
Amadas was regularly to be found at court. The crown accounts record orders to his workshop for domestic plate, bejewelled works of art, gold embroidery on the king’s jackets, spangles, wreaths, hearts, roses, brooches, buttons, whistles, gold garnishing for head gear, a great seal for the king, trappings for the king’s horses, among many other things.
Henry VIII also had a large collection of spoons and would have led the fashion in spoon collecting. The inventory of plate and jewels taken on his death included 69 gold spoons and 352 ‘white or gilt’ spoons. However, no more than a handful have survived to modern times.
This apostle spoon made in the last year of Amadas’ life is therefore a survivor.
