Silver apostle spoon, P.A. van der Beek, The Hague, 1893

Silver commemorative spoon with the apostle Peter as the finial. The spoon was made by Paulus Arnoldus van der Beek. This silversmith worked consecutively in Workum, Franeker, and The Hague from 1854 to 1909.

The spoon is hallmarked with the master's mark "vdB compass," 1st-grade assay mark with export key, Minerva head, and year letter J for 1893.

The spoon also features pseudo hallmarks. This was done to make a 19th-century silver spoon appear to be 18th-century. There was great demand for 18th-century Dutch silver, especially from England. The demand was met through the use of pseudo hallmarks.

Finally, the spoon is marked with English import hallmarks. SBL for Boyce Landeck from London. Import mark F, year letter s for 1893, and the first-grade mark.

In total, the spoon bears 15 hallmarks and marks.

The spoon has a beautifully decorated stem.

In good condition.

Weight: 59.8 grams. Length: 18 cm.