Sherbet Spoon
1850-1900 (made)
| Place of origin |
The finesse in which this spoon was carved suggests its use for dignitary or elite members of society during banquets or special ceremonies. Indeed, Iranian paintings from the early to mid-nineteenth century show such spoons placed delicately along the edges of large porcelain bowls, floating upon the surface, the contents of which contained sherbet. These spoons were used communally amongst guests, often with several guests drinking from the same spoon.
Major R. Murdoch Smith discusses the Iranian town of Abadeh (between Isfahan and Shiraz) as being the main centre of Persian wood carving during the period of 1800-1900. This town was famous for its elaborately carved spoons (qashuq) and small boxes, all made of either pear or lime wood, and carved with a common pocket-knife.
Major R. Murdoch Smith discusses the Iranian town of Abadeh (between Isfahan and Shiraz) as being the main centre of Persian wood carving during the period of 1800-1900. This town was famous for its elaborately carved spoons (qashuq) and small boxes, all made of either pear or lime wood, and carved with a common pocket-knife.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Carved pearwood; painted with green and red |
| Brief description | Carved wooden spoon, Iran (Abadeh), Qajar period, 1850-1900 |
| Physical description | Carved wooden spoon with a large boat-shaped bowl, long rhomboidal handle, and rosette at the join, elaborately carved in openwork. Made from a single piece of pearwood. The handle is entirely carved with an intricate, repeating geometric pattern with stylized birds in profile running along the edges, each accented with small red painted dots. A Persian inscription decorates the center of upper handle (painted in green). |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by H. M. Commissioners for the Exhibition of 1851 |
| Object history | This spoon was a bequest from the Royal Commissioners for the 1851 Exhibition, see registered papers 21/5388. |
| Summary | The finesse in which this spoon was carved suggests its use for dignitary or elite members of society during banquets or special ceremonies. Indeed, Iranian paintings from the early to mid-nineteenth century show such spoons placed delicately along the edges of large porcelain bowls, floating upon the surface, the contents of which contained sherbet. These spoons were used communally amongst guests, often with several guests drinking from the same spoon. Major R. Murdoch Smith discusses the Iranian town of Abadeh (between Isfahan and Shiraz) as being the main centre of Persian wood carving during the period of 1800-1900. This town was famous for its elaborately carved spoons (qashuq) and small boxes, all made of either pear or lime wood, and carved with a common pocket-knife. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | W.342-1921 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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