Nowadays we take them for granted but spoons, in one form or another, have existed for thousands of years, since the Paleolithic. The earliest spoons were made of natural materials such as wood, bone and shells, indeed the word spoon comes from the ancient English word spon (or spun in Scotland) meaning a chip of wood or horn. The French word cuillere is probably derived from the Latin word coclea
r or cochlea meaning snail or spiral. Archeological evidence shows that Iron Age Celts (c 250 BC) used them. First century Roman spoons have been recovered from excavations near London. Spoons produced by Anglo Saxons and Vikings have also been found. Historical evidence suggests that Apostle spoons appeared in the 15th century, usually made of silver, they were often given, by those who could afford it, as gifts at christenings, (hence "born with a silver spoon"). Pewter spoons were commonplace by the 14th century. Tea was rare and very expensive when first introduced to the UK around 1660 so teacups and teaspoons were originally much smaller than they are now. The first mention of a spoon for stirring tea appeared in print in the London Gazette in 1686 ("three small gilt Tea Spoons"). By 1731 we know that a teaspoonful was used as a unit of measure. In 1784 when the Commutation Act reduced the tax on tea from 119% to 12.5% and consequently the size of teacups and teaspoons increased (as the price of tea decreased). The teaspoon, as a unit of measure for cooking, increased to 1⁄3 of a tablespoon by the 1850s, but it continued to be used in apothecaries' measures for several more decades with the original definition of one fluid dram, (= 1⁄4 of a tablespoon or 1⁄8 of a fluid ounce). The apothecaries' teaspoon was known by the Latin cochleare minus, to distinguish it from the tablespoon or cochleare majus. Souvenir teaspoons are often mementos of a place or time. They are typically ornamental, depicting sights, coat of arms, countries, towns, resorts, fairs, natural wonders, events, animals, flowers, flags, holidays, famous people, mythical characters, and so on. The whole teaspoon may be used to convey a theme. It is astonishing what has been engraved, etched, cast, enameled, or otherwise depicted. Collecting souvenir teaspoons has been popular for well over 100 years. The hobby began with the start of tourism in the early to mid 1800s. In Europe, beginning about the time of the Crystal Palace Exhibition in London, in 1851, a brisk trade in the production of souvenir spoons developed which travelers who visited various cities purchased to remind them of their tour. Americans returning from Europe brought souvenir spoons back with them. Two silversmiths are credited with bringing the fad to the US. Galt & Bros of Washington D.C, produced a teaspoon to mark the 100th anniversary of George Washington presidency in 1889. Just one year later, in1890, a jeweler named Seth Low visited Germany and purchased several unusual spoons. When he returned he designed and trademarked the Salem Witch Spoon. Low described the design as featuring "the raised figure of a witch, the word Salem, and the three witch pins of the same size and shape as those preserved in the Court House at Salem”. Soon after that, interest in souvenir spoons grew quickly. Several books on collecting souvenir spoons were published. By 1892 hundreds of souvenir teaspoon patterns were being produced to commemorate American cities and towns, famous people and historical events. The 19th century was a time of growth, industrialization, the rapid acceleration of technology and the invention of mass production techniques. Manufacturing souvenir teaspoons became easier and more efficient, the volume and variety of products increased, plus the collapse of the silver market in 1893 meant silver became more affordable to many. Today it is once again a niche hobby. An incredible range and diversity of decorative and embellished spoons have been produced from all over the world. Vintage and antique specimens exhibiting particularly fine hand-engraving or enameling regularly attract the attention of collectors who are willing to pay hundred for some pieces. Did you know that Portugal gave us the word “Tea”. The first published mention of tea was in 1560 by Portuguese missionary Gaspar da Cruz. Portugal was the first European country to start drinking tea and played an important role in introducing the drink to places along its trade routes in the sixteenth century.
