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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: Brownryan on April 23, 2014, 08:54:52 PM
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I have what appears to be a mote spoon. The bowl is in pierced but embossed. It appears quite rustic, perhaps pewter or tin. I find no markings that would suggest the source. Any information would be appreciated.
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Nice little spoon. Can you please tell me the length of it?
The handle looks rather short for a mote spoon and the bowl isn't pierced. Looks more like a condiment spoon to me - to scoop or pierce and food item.
Mote spoons have a pierced bowl (to skim the top/surface of the tea in order to collect the loose/floating leaves known as motes. The pointed end/stem was designed to stick inside the spout to remove blockages and dislodge loose tea so it could be skimmed and saved. (Tea was very valuable!)
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The total length is 11 1/2 inches with a 3 1/2 inch bowl. I took a close up... The design is quaint.
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I'm wondering if this is a chocolate muddler spoon. Chocolate pots were popular during Victorian times and early 1900's and yes, there was a spoon used to muddle/stir the pot so the chocolate would be well mixed before pouring. They were an item of luxury. Many times resembling a mote spoon but didn't have piercing to the bowl.
But...I am also pondering a cochlearia spoon....
I like the design. Many spoons didn't have any design at all, so that makes this very nice.
Are there any markings on it anywhere? Any numbers, letters?
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Not that I can detect, with a magnifying glass. The lip of the bowl is not smooth, whether that is design or embellishment, I am not sure. It is not a rat tail (if I interpret that a rat tail would have the stem extending up the back of the bowl). I pulled this off the church rummage sale so at this point, don't have any history.
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Nice spoon. Naively engraved, the handle almost superfluous !
Might be earlier than Victorian. Not a classic design for a Christening spoon but might be more ornamental than functional.
Where are you in the world ?
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I wonder if the hole was original to the spoon?
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At almost a foot long and with that blunt tip I think chocolate was its intended use !! Most chocolate pots were pretty tall and slender !! !!
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Have never seen one of that length without a thicker handle
This one narrows towards the tip.
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I am in Minnesota. Lots of scandinavians around here... might that be a clue?
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I would have to see the back side of the spoon bowl to see if it is a rattail spoon. You are correct, a rattail spoon has reinforcement up the back of the spoon bowl and looks like a rat tail!
Haven't seen a christening spoon with a pointed end.
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I am traveling and can't take a picture of the spoon... but the handle does not extend up into the bowl. How might I determine what metal it is? Would a local antiques dealer be able to tell?
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I am in Minnesota. Lots of scandinavians around here... might that be a clue?
Might be. I've seen Sami knives decorated in a similar fashion
It is a strange design.
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Yes they should - but don't let them talk you out of the spoon!
I am looking into Anointing Spoons. Does it look like anything is broken off the end of the handle?
By golly, here is a Swedish mote spoon without a pierced bowl and a decorative edge!
http://www.rubylane.com/item/656453-r565/Mote-Spoon-Swedish-13-Loth (http://www.rubylane.com/item/656453-r565/Mote-Spoon-Swedish-13-Loth)
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Nothing is broken. The spoon pictured actually looks more refined than mine... mine is definitely the rustic cousin.
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I found several chocolate muddling spoons but couldn`t get the pic to load !!
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Mart, send me the addresses if you want!
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A Rubylane / Ebay seller labeling something doesn't make it so. A foot long mote spoon ?!
Think there might be something with the Scandinavian connection though.
Still looks most like some form of anointing / ceremonial spoon to me.
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https://www.google.com/#q=victorian+chocolate+muddling+spoon
Its the second and third one that wouldn`t load !! Didn`t check the ones on ebay !! Was hoping they would show a pic to get sizes !!
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Chocolate pots were often 10 in. or more !!
I checked the ones on ebay but they were just the long handled iced tea spoons !!
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A similar appearing spoon:
http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/antiques/msg022007493845.html (http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/antiques/msg022007493845.html)
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Yes, very similar!
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Still leaning towards a pitcher spoon! Due to it's length! Seen some in the past that they pierced the end with lemons, limes, olives, oranges for decor! But something is nagging at me that it isn't even a spoon........
The thing that is driving me crazy is that I have seen one similar before! It wasn't on the garden web either! Hmmm This will drive me nuttier than I already am! :)
There are many countries that used this style over the centuries! Romans, Greek, etc.... They didn't have forks so they used the end to pierce and pick up foods!
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Oh yeah...uh huh...uh huh....I found it....I found it!!!!!!
(http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww173/prestonjjrtr/Congrats/happydance.gif)
Found the one I was looking for!!!! READ ALL OF THE WAY THROUGH THE ARTICLE TO SEE WHAT IT IS!!!!!!!
Surprise!
http://www.ascasonline.org/articoloM53.html (http://www.ascasonline.org/articoloM53.html)
and here
http://www.silvercollection.it/pagina230.html (http://www.silvercollection.it/pagina230.html)
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wow-kc--
way to go
looks so simple when you know what it is
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Fantastic!!! And you have also solved the mystery of who it belongs to. One of the church members' grew up in Bolivia.... I can return the topo to its' rightful owner!
I appreciate you taking this wild goose chase with me. Thank you!
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You are mighty welcome! Love the challenge! Feel free to bring other treasures here!
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Well who would have thought ,,, !! Good work KC !!