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Spoon

Spoon

  • Place of origin:

    Flanders (possibly, made)

  • Date:

    ca. 1410-1440 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Unknown

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Silver; gold; enamel

  • Museum number:

    1392-1888

  • Gallery location:

    In store

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Spoons are among the earliest domestic objects. As distinct from dishes or knives which were often shared, spoons were treasured individual possessions.This silver spoon is entirely covered with enamel in distinctive stripes of colour, inset with the repeated letters M and O in silver. Both may indicate the original identity of the owner, now unknown. The quality and material of this spoon suggest that it must have been the property of a person of rank and not intended for daily use.

Physical description

A spoon, of silver gilt and translucent enamel with highlights in gilt. The bowl decorated with a floriated pattern on a central band of white, to one side blue, the other green. The back decorated with a pattern of moon and stars and the initials 'M' and 'O' on a similarly coloured background. The handle bifaceted and in green enamel, decorated with stars and dots, and terminating in a fruit.

Place of Origin

Flanders

Date

ca. 1410-1440 (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown

Materials and Techniques

Silver; gold; enamel

Marks and inscriptions

"'M' and 'O'" The letters 'M' and 'O' may be the initials of the owner, though neither the letters nor the colours of the enamel could be associated with a particular family.

Dimensions

Length: 17.4 cm
Width: 5 cm
Weight: 0.06 kg
Diameter: 2.2 cm

Measured for the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries

Object history note

Charles the Bold Exhibition RF.2006/635

Historical context note

The technique of enamel en ronde bosse, e.g. enamelling in the round or in high relief, is probably of French origin and was developed in the mid 1300s. This method of enamelling was only affordable to the highest ranks of society. There were several centres of production in the 15th century, including the Netherlands, the Rhineland and Venice.

Descriptive line

Enamelled silver spoon, decorated with foliage, stars and moon and letters 'O' and 'M'

Materials

Silver; Gold; Enamel

Techniques

Gilding; Enamelling

Subjects depicted

Foliage; Star; Moon

Collection code

MET

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Qr_O68998
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