Apostle Spoon

 

 

One of the remarkable artifacts discovered by this summer’s field school was an Apostle Spoon. Apostle Spoons are decorated with a small depiction of an apostle as a finial. They were made in sets of thirteen to represent twelve apostles and a master spoon depicting either Jesus or the Virgin Mary. These spoons were popular from the 15th through the mid-17th centuries.

 

 

 

Our specimen is made of a copper alloy known as latten. Numerous museums hold examples in silver. Our specimen is identified as representing St. Andrew, based on the “X” shaped cross known as “saltire”), now commonly known as a “Saint Andrew’s Cross”