Spoon, with bowl formed of the segment of a large cowrie shell; made in Germany or Switzerland, late 16th century or 17th century

The bowl formed of the segment of a large cowrie shell; silver-gilt handle, fluted, with a flat end in form of a shield, on which is enamelled the fore part of a horse.

This cowrie-shell spoon could have been kept in a Kunstkammer, but it may also have been used for particular purposes, for example for taking medicine, or for eating caviar, as the lack of silver on the bowl avoided the problem of oxidisation. Unusual cutlery often functioned as conversation pieces at banquets, as the diners discussed the materials, value and make of the objects they handled. The owner's coat of arms on the spoon ensured that he was accorded the kudos due to him for the possession of such an artefact, and more prosaically prevented controversy over ownership, as it was passed around the table to be admired.

Secondary sources argue that mother of pearl and cowrie shell spoons were typical ‘kunstkammer’ objects. Cowrie (in this case it is the Cypraea Tigris) comes from the coral reefs of the Indo-Pacific region.