Spoon, 1850-1874 (1287-1874)

Large carved wooden spoons such as this – each with a boat-shaped bowl, long rhomboidal handle, curved ‘buttress’ and a rosette at the join – were made from up to seven separate parts, each finely carved from lime wood and adhered together with glue.

The bowl was carved into a ribbed pattern and further ornamented with either Persian inscriptions along the outer edges – each alluding to desire, taste, or love - or with a single band of vegetal scrolls. The rosette, buttress and handle were all carved with a fine openwork pattern of geometric motifs arranged in registers around a central panel of floral sprays. The finesse in which this spoon was carved suggests its use for dignitary or elite members of society during banquets or special ceremonies.

Indeed, Iranian paintings from the early to mid-nineteenth century show such spoons placed delicately along the edges of large porcelain bowls, floating upon the surface, the contents of which contained sherbet. These spoons were used communally amongst guests, often with several guests drinking from the same spoon. Major R. Murdoch Smith discusses the Iranian town of Abadeh (between Isfahan and Shiraz) as being the main centre of Persian wood carving during the period of 1800-1900.

This town was famous for its elaborately carved spoons (qashuq) and small boxes, all made of either pear or lime wood, and carved with a common pocket-knife. Carved wooden spoon with a large boat-shaped bowl, long rhomboidal handle, and rosette at the join, elaborately carved in openwork. Made from seven pieces of carved pearwood, each adhered with glue. The handle, circular dial, upper ladle, and lower attachement are each carved in a pierced decoration of repeating geometric designs aranged in registers around a central floral motif or spray.

The ladle is delicately carved in subtle relief with registers of horizontal vegetal scrolls and flowers.