STUNNING BYZANTINE SILVER AND NIELLO SPOON WITH INSCRIPTION "MATTEUS" Ca. AD 600. A silver spoon with a drop-shaped bowl and a long round-section handle terminating in a rounded knob finial. The handle bears a niello-inlaid inscription reading “MATTEUS”, flanked by crosses. For similar see: The Walters Art Museum, Accession Number 57.649. Size: 190mm x 25mm; Weight: 25g Provenance: Private UK collection; previously acquired on the US art market, pre-2000. This item has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database and comes with a confirmation letter.