Shell Spoon by 30pics4jackiesdiamond

Shell Spoon

I have little idea of how old this spoon is or what its function was. I think it might have been used for Baptisms by my Great Uncle when he was a missionary in Borneo in the 1940s or while he was in Perth Australia in the 1950s and '60s.

The bowl of the spoon is a shell and the handle is brass or bronze with a carved face made of an oppulescent material, maybe mother-of-pearl.

Post Script - Mona suggested it could be a Victorian caviar spoon . This makes it even more strange, as we never ate caviar during my childhood.

Anyway, it's old and that's a word for October! Oh and this set up involved black card and cloth, two hairdryers, one handbag sized handspray bottle and 55 shots!!!
The face looks like a mask you would see in the Venice Carnival! It looks strongly made and really is a treasure!
October 25th, 2018  
Lovely. Buddha face I think.
October 25th, 2018  
Victorian caviar serving spoon? With man in the moon face. A beautiful piece.
October 25th, 2018  
@mona65 Oh My Goodness, I googled your suggestion and found this https://www.baghambarnantiques.com/products/caviar-serving-spoon the exact same spoon! How did you know??
@cutekitty That;s why I thought it was oriental
@maggiemae it is a treasure, of obscure orogin!
October 25th, 2018  
Beautiful spoon with its moon face and a great capture pleased you have identified it .
October 26th, 2018  
My this spoon truly has a story to tell! It's a bit of a mystery- and must be frustrating to not be able to find out how and why it ended up with your family if none of you ate caviar! Well done on the pictures. It's really beautiful!
October 26th, 2018  
Great shots!
October 26th, 2018  
Wonderful shots and tones of this beautiful spoon with the man in the moon ;-)
October 26th, 2018  
What an excellent piece of family history - and it's just beautiful.
October 26th, 2018  
Super shots of your family mystery Jackie! Can't quite figure out the hairdryers and hairspray bit tho........
October 26th, 2018  
What a great story this photo tells
October 26th, 2018  
@30pics4jackiesdiamond ;-) Useless "knowledge" in the back of my brain. I have a wakeness for nice spoons, shells,... (things).But I do not remember, where I picked up this kind of information. Probably at a antique market somewhere. Good that this have been of help, but it did not solve the family mystery at all, quite the contrary.
October 26th, 2018  
@mona65 I do think my uncle used it in his ministry, thank you so very much for you help X
@onewing thank you
@365anne to balance the blooming thing!!! @robz it is so delicate, but obvs not rare
@ludwigsdiana it's little face is perfect
@kwind worth the wasted 52!
@olivetreeann many thanks, think mines better than one on website link
@wendyfrost interesting what one learns from other 365ers!!

@phil_sandford Phil can you shed any light on history of this spoon?? It was just in Mum's cutlery drawer when we emptied the house. I don't ever remember it in use, and wonder if came from Cornwall when that house cleared!? I have z vague memory of a link to Leo.
October 26th, 2018  
It's a really interesting piece Jackie. How big is it? I'm glad that you explained about the hairdryers and bottle because it had me puzzled too :)
October 26th, 2018  
Very fancy spoon. I was also a tad confused re the hairdryers but I see that you did leave an explanation for Anne.
October 26th, 2018  
@merrelyn it's 8" long, the she'll us between 2-3 " and man on moon 3/4 ".
@salza studio photography done in a bedroom, use what's available!!
October 26th, 2018  
Wow, what a lovely piece, so unusual
October 26th, 2018  
Lovely spoon.
October 26th, 2018  
@30pics4jackiesdiamond I have a vague recollection of being told to be careful with that spoon down in Cornwall by Nana Sis back in the 70s. I'm pretty sure it used to be Bran's (but my memory isn't what it used to be). I can only assume it came up to Norfolk after Pop died? Fascinating identification by @mona65 - I didn't know you needed a specific type of spoon to eat caviar (I know you need a special kind of etiquette to spit it out after you've put it in your mouth)
October 27th, 2018  
@phil_sandford lol XXX. Think was Leo's then
October 27th, 2018  
You could have it assessed - might be an item of rare value!
October 29th, 2018  
October 29th, 2018  
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