apostle spoons
Preserved but no longer current.
Spoons having the figure of one of the apostles at the top of the handle, formerly given at christenings. Sometimes twelve spoons, representing the twelve apos- tles; sometimes four> representing the four evangelists; and sometimes only one, was presented. Occasionally a set occurs contain- ing in addition the " Master Spoon " and the " Lady Spoon.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “apostle spoons” mean?
Spoons having the figure of one of the apostles at the top of the handle, formerly given at christenings. Sometimes twelve spoons, representing the twelve apos- tles; sometimes four> representing the four evangelists; and sometimes only one, was presented. Occasionally a set occurs contain- ing in addition the " Master Spoon " and the " Lady Spoon.
Is “apostle spoons” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.