Mote spoon

[Brownryan]

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.

[KC]

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!)

[Brownryan]

The total length is 11 1/2 inches with a 3 1/2 inch bowl.  I took a close up... The design is quaint.

[KC]

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?

[Brownryan]

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.

[Ipcress]

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 ?

[sugarcube5419]

I wonder if the hole was original to the spoon?

[mart]

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 !! !!

[Ipcress]

Have never seen one of that length without a thicker handle

This one narrows towards the tip.

[Brownryan]

I am in Minnesota.  Lots of scandinavians around here... might that be a clue? 

[KC]

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.

[Brownryan]

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?

[Ipcress]

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.

[KC]

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

[Brownryan]

Nothing is broken.  The spoon pictured actually looks more refined than mine... mine is definitely the rustic cousin.