by Wayne Bednersh
A few years ago, I was able to fulfill a childhood dream of actually visiting the pyramids.
Although I have visited a number of countries and seen many of the important landmarks around the world,
I can truthfully say that the Egyptian pyramids were indeed AWESOME.
I do have authority to say this because I have also seen and climbed the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon at Teotihuacán outside Mexico City and have also visited the pyramids at Chitchen Itza in Mexico
as well as a number of lesser known sites of antiquity.
Various Pharoah spoons
The third spoon represents King Tut (Tutankhamun). The 1922 discovery of his tomb by Harold Carter sparked
immense public interest in Egypt. I suspect that this spoon dates from that era.
At the finial is a blue 'death mask' of the Pharoah. I believe that it is carved from some type of soft rock mineral.
The images on these spoons are pretty generic so not much discussion of them is necessary
A number of different types of sarcophagus / mummy spoons are available. Technically the mummy is the dried body.
Sometimes the sarcophagus opens on hinges to reveal a small silver mummy inside.
There have been a few famous Egyptian females who we find on spoons. Typically Cleopatra and Queen Nefertitit
The last two spoons features some nice Egyptian silver work with cutout designs. I purchased them on my visit to Egypt.
All these spoons also show a number of generic Egyptian images.
Obelisks are huge stone monuments that are decorated with carved images. These are also amazing and are very tall.
I saw one in Turkey which had been originally made in Egypt. I have absolutely no idea how they could have transported
it in one piece without heavy duty equipment all those years ago.
Most of these spoons show Hieroglyphic writing which is like a picture puzzle (rebus). If anyone wants to translate these, please let me know.
These spoons have baskets at the finial. Based upon the Biblical story where Moses was placed in a basket and set upon the Nile River.
These baskets are on hinges and they open to reveal a small baby Moses.
These spoons use a variety of Egyptian symbols. Most of us are familiar with many of these symbols since we have seen them repeatedly.
The one in the middle is known as a Hamas hand.
The crocodile handle (#3) is cast and is of much lesser quality.
All of the spoons pictured to this point have been 800 grade silver and some have gold coatings and enamel work.
This is a pretty spoon, but it is NOT silver. It was made in Czechoslavakia and sold into the tourist trade.
It is of very low value.
This is an interesting spoon despite it being of low value (I don't think it is silver)
The finial has 5 colored stones mounted on it and the bowl is an Egyptian coin.
Return to main exhibits index