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 SMP Silver Salon Forums
 Continental / International Silver
 Mysterious Figural Spoon
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| Author | Topic: Mysterious Figural Spoon |
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Paul Lemieux Posts: 1792 |
posted 01-23-2007 12:44 AM
  
Here is a fascinating handwrought silver spoon I picked up over the weekend. The handle, which is cast with hand-worked details, is an incredible phantasmagorical creature with a mammalian head, hairy claws, a fat, speckled body, eight legs, and a long, segmented tail. The underside is covered with little hairs. The bowl, which has a gilt finish and crimped edges, is hand-chased with a scene of a dog or wolf (?) among palm trees. The spoon is completely unmarked, so I have no idea where it was made. It is definitely solid silver. It does seem to be 19th century, but I am buffaloed by its symbolism. Any thoughts? IP: Logged |
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adelapt Posts: 418 |
posted 01-23-2007 02:53 AM
No idea, but full marks to the maker for a fevered imagination. Good one to scare small children with. IP: Logged |
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vathek Posts: 966 |
posted 01-23-2007 06:22 AM
certainly looks like a stylized scorpion. the mammalian head may be there because it would be much harder to do a scorpion head. We all know what the scorpion looks like, but try and picture the 'face'? Also note the 8 legs, definitely an arachnid. [This message has been edited by vathek (edited 01-23-2007).] IP: Logged |
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FWG Posts: 845 |
posted 01-23-2007 08:38 AM
I agree with vathek, definitely a scorpion as inspiration. My first thought is Latin America, although I haven't seen anything just like it. The engraving is also somewhat reminiscent of some Southeast Asian work. What is its size? IP: Logged |
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dragonflywink Posts: 993 |
posted 01-24-2007 03:32 PM
Rainwater's Spoons Around the World shows four very similar examples in the Indian section, though none have that weird face or the nice bowl. Text: "While older snake and scorpion spoons have had ceremonial significance, later specimens were made for the souvenir trade. Other, more elaborate versions than those shown here, have representations of a Hindu deity embossed in the bowls." Perhaps the character depicted is Chandru, the blue jackal, from the Hindu fable. Cheryl ;o) IP: Logged |
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vathek Posts: 966 |
posted 01-25-2007 06:41 AM
Are there palm trees in India? IP: Logged |
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