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Lot Essay
WODEWOSE SPOONS
The Benson Wodewose is a remarkable survival in the oeuvre of early spoons. While presumably they were made in larger numbers in the 14th and 15th century, as suggested by their appearance in a number of early inventories and wills, today it is believed that only four survive. Of the others perhaps the most famous is the Ellis Wodewose, which was originally in the celebrated spoon collection of Hubert Dynes Ellis (d. 1925). While most of the Ellis collection was purchased en block by Lt. Col. J. Benett-Stanford and sold by him at Sotheby's in 1935, the Wodewose spoon did not appear in that sale, being acquired instead directly by the Victoria and Albert museum in 1921 and where it remains today (M.65-1921). The remaining two examples are both connected to America, with one in the collection of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (2010.13), the gift of Rita R. Gans and the fourth believed to be in an American collection, having been with the New York dealer Shrubsole, having originally been in the collection of J. H. Walker.
The first three are each marked with either the 'Syrian' or 'Arabian' leopards head while the last has London hallmarks for 1538.
THE WODEWOSE
The Wodewose or green-man was a very popular motif in decorative arts from the 14th century, being used throughout Europe as a symbol of desire and lust and as a result of the imagination of what might be found by the explorers who were travelling to new lands. The use of the motif on spoons features in many early records, such as a will of 1486 which mentions 'sex Cochleria argenti cum Wodwyyles deavratis' (as quoted Constable, op. cit., p. 50). The most tantalising record refers to twelve in the possession of a John Fabian of Coggeshall, Essex which had Wodewose finials and were marked with illegal leopards head mark in the bowl. This reference has led to the suggestion that the group of early Wodewose spoons come from Coggeshall.
The Benson Wodewose is a remarkable survival in the oeuvre of early spoons. While presumably they were made in larger numbers in the 14th and 15th century, as suggested by their appearance in a number of early inventories and wills, today it is believed that only four survive. Of the others perhaps the most famous is the Ellis Wodewose, which was originally in the celebrated spoon collection of Hubert Dynes Ellis (d. 1925). While most of the Ellis collection was purchased en block by Lt. Col. J. Benett-Stanford and sold by him at Sotheby's in 1935, the Wodewose spoon did not appear in that sale, being acquired instead directly by the Victoria and Albert museum in 1921 and where it remains today (M.65-1921). The remaining two examples are both connected to America, with one in the collection of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (2010.13), the gift of Rita R. Gans and the fourth believed to be in an American collection, having been with the New York dealer Shrubsole, having originally been in the collection of J. H. Walker.
The first three are each marked with either the 'Syrian' or 'Arabian' leopards head while the last has London hallmarks for 1538.
THE WODEWOSE
The Wodewose or green-man was a very popular motif in decorative arts from the 14th century, being used throughout Europe as a symbol of desire and lust and as a result of the imagination of what might be found by the explorers who were travelling to new lands. The use of the motif on spoons features in many early records, such as a will of 1486 which mentions 'sex Cochleria argenti cum Wodwyyles deavratis' (as quoted Constable, op. cit., p. 50). The most tantalising record refers to twelve in the possession of a John Fabian of Coggeshall, Essex which had Wodewose finials and were marked with illegal leopards head mark in the bowl. This reference has led to the suggestion that the group of early Wodewose spoons come from Coggeshall.