Apostle spoons
I make a pot of tea two or three times a day. I use Twinings Assam loose tea, or occasionally Earl Grey if my son-in-law is visiting (the writer, not the plumber) and spoon the leaves into the pot with a little spoon that came from my parents’ home, long before they died. The spoon is an Apostle spoon, of no great value other than sentiment. I don’t know if my parents had a set, or whether they just had one, perhaps as a christening gift for someone in the family.
Similar spoons had their origin in 15th century Europe and were used at table, often being produced in sets of thirteen, and representing Christ’s Last Supper in company with his twelve disciples. It is rare now to find a complete set, though they were popular and produced in large numbers in England and Germany.
During the 16th century they were popular gifts from godparents to their godchildren, but the tradition had declined by the middle of the 20th century. They were also sometimes given as wedding presents, to bless the couple with good fortune.
The earliest spoons were made from silver, with a representation of an apostle at the top or finial of the handle. Apostles could be identified by the objects they carried, known as attributes. Saint Peter was shown with a key or sword, or sometimes a fish. Judas was depicted holding a bag of money, and Saint Andrew held a cross. The Master, or Christ, carried a cross and orb. The British Museum in London has an irreplaceable set of thirteen, in which the thirteenth character is shown as the Virgin Mary.
In later years, many spoons were created in base metal, like nickel silver, with a thin layer of silver electroplated onto it. Nickel silver is a mixture of nickel, zinc, and copper.
My little spoon has EPNS (Electro Plated Nickel Silver) stamped on the reverse. It’s difficult to be sure, but I think the apostle is intended to be Saint John the Evangelist. It looks as if he is carrying a chalice, the cup of sorrow foretold by Christ.
It is not valuable, but I would be very sorry to lose it. All the while it rests in the tea caddy there’s little chance of that!
My mom had a set of six apostle spoons, I think a silver wedding gift. But she had a different, bigger, spoon for tea, with a handle that curved back in a loop, and fitted into the tea caddy. I still remember the smell of the tea when she opened the caddy.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fascinating piece of history! It's amazing how something as simple as a spoon can carry so much tradition and sentiment. The story behind Apostle spoons is truly intriguing.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny how we can become attached to particular spoons. I think it is an age thing. Did St Andrew carry a cross because he was always cross? He should have chilled out. No wonder he became the patron saint of Scotland.
ReplyDeleteThis is so very interesting. I haven't ever seen anything like it.
ReplyDeleteI find those things like your spoon beyond valuable, both in sentiment and family history.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of Apostle spoons, though I did know about silver gifts for a Christening.
ReplyDeleteNow I know what they are.
ReplyDeleteI imagine that families in previous centuries used spoons at the table more than individual forks. And children in particular would have preferred spoons, so giving spoons as baptismal gifts made perfect gifts.
ReplyDeleteThus the saying "born with a silver spoon in his/her mouth", do you think?
I remember the apostle teaspoons. In my childhood they were around.
ReplyDeleteWe had a 12 apostle teaspoon, but that was a travel teaspoon about rocks in the sea off our coast.
I think I would like you to make me a cup of tea. I like your tea choices and I am sure the tea will be correctly made and served. Just a drop of milk, thanks, after the tea is poured, of course.
I switched to loose tea some time ago. Having tea in a pot makes it more of an occasion. Taking such a clear closeup of the apostle is such a great idea.
ReplyDeleteHow interesting. I didn’t know about Apostle spoons, coming from a heathen family background.
ReplyDeleteI would make tea in a pot with loose tea but P doesn't like the "unnecessary faff" so we use teabags. (He is usually the tea boy in our house).
I only drink coffee made in a filter pot, my plastic scoop is neither pretty or has an interesting back story, maybe I should take up drinking tea again. I have a few items of my mum's which I cherish as I use them.
ReplyDeleteI know of Apostle spoons. I believe they were often Christening gifts.
ReplyDelete