One of a set of 12 Apostle Spoons / Artist Unknown, Germany
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About this Item
Record Details
- Accession Number
- 1975/2.195
- Title
- One of a set of 12 Apostle Spoons
- Artist
- Artist Unknown, Germany
- Artist Nationality
- German
- Medium and Support
- cast silver
- Object Creation Date
- late 19th century
- Object Creation Place
- Europe (continent)
- Germany (nation)
- Creation Place 1
- Europe (continent)
- Creation Place 2
- Germany (nation)
- Credit Line
- Gift of Raymond C. Smith
- Dimensions
- 15.5 cm (6 1/8 in.)
- Century
- 19th century
- Primary Object Classification
- Decorative Arts
- Primary Object Type
- spoon
- Physical Description
- Silver spoon with figure of a man at the terminal end of the handle
- Subject Matter
- Originating in early 15th-century Europe, Apostle spoons became popular christening and baptismal gifts by the early 16th century. A complete set traditionally contains thirteen spoons with representations of Christ (the Master spoon) and the twelve Apostles, each with his respective emblem, at the terminal end of the handle. The spoons—usually made out of silver, but sometime other metals such as pewter—were especially fashionable in Germany, Holland and England and were often gifted by a godparent to his or her godchild. The wealthiest godparents would gift a complete set, others a smaller number, and the most modest a single spoon. Complete sets of all twelve Apostle spoons (such as this set from Germany represented here) are quite rare, while sets including the figure of Jesus on a larger spoon are even more exceedingly rare.
- Secondary Keywords
- culinary equipment
- culinary equipment by function
- culinary equipment for serving and consuming food
- disciples
- equipment
- equipment by context
- household objects
- objects we use
- people
- people (agents)
- people and culture
- people and occupations
- people by activity
- religious figures
- tools and equipment
- utensils for serving food
- Rights
- If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit https://umma.umich.edu/about/services/request-image/ for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
Technical Details
- Collection
- University of Michigan Museum of Art
- Image Size
- 976 x 1480
- File Size
- 138 KB
- Record
- 1975/2.195
- Link to this Item
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1975-sl-2.195/1975_2.195.jpg
Rights and Permissions
Related Links
Portfolios
- In public portfolios
IIIF
- Manifest
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/i/image/api/manifest/musart:1975-SL-2.195:1975_2.195.JPG
Cite this Item
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- Full citation
-
"One of a set of 12 Apostle Spoons; Artist Unknown, Germany." In the digital collection University of Michigan Museum of Art. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1975-sl-2.195/1975_2.195.jpg. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 10, 2024.