Table spoon, silver, Wrocław, early 18th century
4200,00 zł
Silver tablespoon with a richly decorated flat handle, ending with a characteristic profiled button in the Baroque style. On the top side, finely engraved floral ornaments – typical of Central European Baroque. On the underside of the scoop part, two punches: the city mark of Wroclaw (St. John’s head in a circle) and the probationer’s mark (the letter “H” in a heart). A proboscis in the place of joining the handle with the scoop – an element typical of Lower Silesian workshops of the period.
1 in stock
Plant ornament as a sign of affluence and elegance
The rich floral motif engraved on the handle of the spoon is not just decorative. In the Baroque era, it was a symbol of refined taste, wealth and membership in the urban elite. Such spoons may have belonged to wealthy burghers, clergy or guild members.
Historical context
Breslau was one of the most important goldsmithing centers in Central Europe in the 17th-18th centuries. The Breslau workshops were famous for their high quality applied and sacred silver, and their products were exported and coveted throughout the region. Today, the city's punches and test marks are key sources for dating and identifying these works.
Collector's value
A preserved specimen of Baroque applied silver from Wroclaw is rare. The item has museum and regional value, making it extremely attractive to collectors of Silesian silver, Baroque enthusiasts and researchers of old guilds.
The floral ornamentation, proportions and fluidity of the stem form demonstrate the craftsmanship of Silesian goldsmithing. The subtle rhytic line shows the mastery of the engraver.
Application (Utility)
A piece of luxury table service, today as a collector's item, museum piece, exhibit or souvenir. It can serve as a symbolic gift.
Curiosity
The proboscis, visible where the shank joins the picker, was a distinctive mark of Lower Silesian proboscises - rarely seen outside the Silesian region. Today, it is a unique identifying feature for regional silver.
| Weight | 0,044 kg |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 19,2 × 5,2 × 2 cm |
| Type |
Utility item / tableware item |
| Form |
Spoon with decorated handle |
| Materiał |
Silver |
| Kolorystyka |
Silver |
| Technika |
Chiseling ,Forging ,Riting |
| Czas powstania |
18th century (1701-1800) |
| Style |
Central European Baroque |
| Kraj pochodzenia |
Poland ,Wroclaw |
| Autor |
Unknown |
| State of preservation |
Very good. |
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This hand-carved wooden spoon, 23 cm long, originates from Poland and is dated to the 19th century or earlier. The deep, functional bowl shows clear signs of use. The handle is adorned with serrated line carvings and a 'V' initial, likely for owner identification. A leather strap with an old collector's paper tag remains attached to the end.
In the 19th century in Poland, spoons of this type were among the basic items of everyday use on rural and pastoral farms. They were made by hand from a single piece of wood, which was part of the tradition of Polish folk craftsmanship, based on simple, durable materials.
Copies with preserved markings are rare today, documenting the development of Polish material culture and everyday practices of village life.