Spoon thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Spoon

ca. 1700 - ca. 1720 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Germany (made)

This ivory, steel, silver and enamel carving set is made in Germany, dated 17 October 1682. It is a three-piece set comprising a presentoir (serving knife), a carving knife and a fork. All the handles are decorated with piqué work: thin strips of silver inlaid into ivory with flower patterns. Coloured enamels and lacquers enhance the designs. They may have been made for a wedding gift for a marriage celebrated on 17 October 1682.


Object details

Categories
Accessories
Sculpture
Eating
Tableware & Cutlery
Object type
Spoon
Materials and techniques
Steel and ivory, carved
Steel
Ivory
Carving
Brief description
Spoon, ivory, part of a set of cutlery (knife, fork, spoon), German, ca. 1700-1720
Physical description
All pieces are held in a case. The handle of the spoon carved in form of a winged cherub's head, with bunches of fruit (the handles of the knife and fork are carved with grapes and vine leaves).
Dimensions
  • Of spoon length: 14.8cm
Object history
Bought in 1858 for 4l. 4s. (for whole set). The vendor is unrecorded.
Subjects depicted
Cherub Head
Fruit
Summary
This ivory, steel, silver and enamel carving set is made in Germany, dated 17 October 1682. It is a three-piece set comprising a presentoir (serving knife), a carving knife and a fork. All the handles are decorated with piqué work: thin strips of silver inlaid into ivory with flower patterns. Coloured enamels and lacquers enhance the designs. They may have been made for a wedding gift for a marriage celebrated on 17 October 1682.
Associated objects
Bibliographic references
  • Inventory of Art Objects Acquired in the Year 1858. In: Inventory of the Objects in the Art Division of the Museum at South Kensington, Arranged According to the Dates of their Acquisition. Vol I. London: Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., 1868, p. 15
  • Longhurst, Margaret H. Catalogue of Carvings in Ivory. Part II. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1929 p. 94
  • Trusted, Marjorie, Baroque & Later Ivories, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 2013 p. 424
  • Longhurst, Margaret H. Catalogue of Carvings in Ivory. Part II. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1929, p. 94
  • Trusted, Marjorie, Baroque & Later Ivories, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 2013, p. 424, cat. no. 438
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
4864-1858

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Record createdJune 11, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O248680/spoon-unknown/
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