I was able to obtain this rare spoon from a Dutch contractor who found
it
buried in the walls of a 15th century house which he was modernizing.
The size, shape and material indicates that it was probably created in
the 1450-1550 time frame.
I am unsure of the exact type of metal used in this spoon. It is
probably a 'pot'
metal and probably a derivative of bronze or pewter. As you can see
from the corrosion, it is in delicate condition, but it is still
intact. Most of the spoons surviving from this era are also pretty
corroded.
Unfortunately I do not know much else about this piece. The horseshoe
and leg
at the finial is supposedly for good
luck. But I have also seen it referred to as "dear foot". Other spoons
of this era may have different designs at the knop.
There are very few surviving spoons from this era in any metal and many
of the survivors are broken or incomplete..
