Roman, probably later Imperial Period, ca. 3rd to 4th century CE. An ornate spoon made from solid silver with a delightful sitting duck finial between the handle and the bowl. The bowl is round, with a decorative handle that narrows to a point at the end for use in extracting snails or seafood from their shells. The bowl is joined to the handle by a tightly curved, thick piece of silver. Size: 0.95" W x 8.4" H (2.4 cm x 21.3 cm); 34.9 grams

The spoon is a fascinating cultural object, often a prized personal item at a time when the average person owned very little; spoons made of precious metal were so highly valued that they were even listed in inventories of noble households. In fact, they were so treasured that cochlearia made of silver have been found in treasure hoards. From the British Hoxne Hoard, which is the largest collection of late Roman silver and gold found in Britain, we know that spoons of a later date, from the Christian period, are usually inscribed with Chi-Rhos or other Christian symbols. The lack of inscription on this piece suggests that it is from a pre-Christian time or was owned by a pagan family.

Provenance: private Davis Collection, Houston, Texas, USA

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#132919

Nice, lightly encrusted patina on surface. Well-preserved form and details, with some nicks/signs of use on the bowl.