Many of the European spoons have references to ancient legends or important historical personages. Sometimes it is difficult for we, Americans, to interpret these images because we have not received the same degree of schooling in classical mythology.
This large serving spoon (just over 10 inches --260mm) features three men at the finial who are dressed in very old style clothes. Their right hands are held aloft in a "high five" salute while their left hands grab each-others wrist forming a circle.
These figures are very well cast. I have been told that this is a reference to the "oath of Haruti". According to legend, these Roman warriors pledged their lives to each other and they fought to the death. The importance of this legend is that over the years, the concept of responsibility under the law is traced to this oath.
In the bowl there is a little repousse hut with a boat on a lake. I had absolutely no idea what this was supposed to be, but one of the members of my spoon club recognized this scene. He says that this is the hospital of Dr. Albert Schweitzer. This is probably a reasonable explanation as Dr. Schweitzer's activities in Africa occurred around the time this spoon was made.
The stem is in a nice art nuevo style and there is also a cow head which may be a reference to an Italian city.