Mother-of-Pearl Fish-Form Serving Spoon
Mid-20th Century — c. 1950s–1970s
- Material
- Horn / bone
- Use
- Serving
- Century
- 20th century CE
- Size
- Large
- Provenance
- Owner's collection
Dimensions2 measurements
- Overall length
- 22.5 cm
- Overall width
- 5.2 cm
Catalogue Note
A charming novelty serving spoon carved from mother-of-pearl in the form of a stylised fish, the tapering body incised with fine scale detailing and mounted with a small jet or ebony bead as the eye. The bowl is formed by the fish's tail, rendered in gentle relief. The piece shows the warm, translucent lustre characteristic of shell work, with subtle surface crazing and gentle patina consistent with age and use. A whimsical object of genuine craft, suited to both table and display.
Spoon Lore
Fish-shaped spoons enjoyed particular popularity in the Victorian and Edwardian eras, when novelty flatware served both as practical implements and as conversation-piece objets d'art. The mother-of-pearl versions were often imported from the Far East or carved in European workshops as luxury goods, reflecting the era's fascination with natural materials and zoomorphic design.
From the collection of
sabri