The Metropolitan Museum of Art - Apostle spoon: Master

Art Object

The Roentgens' Berlin Secretary Cabinet

Discover the hidden features and intricate interior of this cabinet.

One of the finest achievements of European furniture making, this cabinet is the most important product from Abraham (1711–1793) and David Roentgen's (1743–1807) workshop. A writing cabinet crowned with a chiming clock, it features finely designed marquetry panels and elaborate mechanisms that allow for doors and drawers to be opened automatically at the touch of a button. Owned by King Frederick William II, the Berlin cabinet is uniquely remarkable for its ornate decoration, mechanical complexity, and sheer size.

This cabinet, from Kunstgewerbemuseum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, is featured in the exhibition Extravagant Inventions: The Princely Furniture of the Roentgens (on view October 30, 2012–January 27, 2013).

Footage courtesy of VideoART GmbH and Kunstgewerbemuseum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin.

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Apostle spoon: Master

William Cawdell (1560–1625)

Date:: 1592/93
Culture:: British, London
Medium:: Silver, parcel gilt
Dimensions:: H. 7 1/8 in. (18.1 cm), W. of bowl 2 in. (5.1 cm)
Classification:: Metalwork
Credit Line:: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. James B. Mabon, 1967
Accession Number:: 67.166.1

This artwork is currently on display in Gallery 521

Description

Silver spoons with finials in the form of the Apostles of Christ-each with his identifying emblem-were commonly owned by the wealthy gentry or merchants. A full set would have included a "Master Spoon," representing the figure of Christ.
Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Inscription: F S (incised on under side of bowl near stem)

Marking: [1] Leopard's head crowned; [2] Crescent enclosing W, laid on its side, the whole in a shaped shield (maker's mark); [3] Lion passant; [4] Capital Roman P, in shield (date letter of 1592-1593) Location of marks: [1] in bowl near stem; [2],[3],[4] on back of stem near bowl
Provenance

Frith Family (in 1650) ; James B. Mabon Sr.
See also
Who
William Cawdell (13)
What
Metal (59,364)

Metalwork (14,716)

Silver (14,056)

Gilt (9,043)

Flatware (2,143)

Spoons (1,860)

Place spoons (98)

Apostle spoons (44)
Where
Europe (148,586)

United Kingdom (25,557)

England (9,102)

London (2,006)
When
A.D. 1400-1600 (20,545)
In the Museum
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts (43,257)
Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History
Great Britain and Ireland, 1400–1600 A.D.

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The Roentgens' Berlin Secretary Cabinet

Apostle spoon: Master

William Cawdell (1560–1625)

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The Roentgens' Berlin Secretary Cabinet

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Apostle spoon: Master

William Cawdell (1560–1625)

Met Media

Met Kids

Met Store