Sherbet spoon, Iran, 1850-1874
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1850-1874
Sherbet spoon in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (museum number 1290-1874), made in Iran, dated 1850-1874. The museum's brief description reads: Carved wooden spoon, Iran (Abadeh), Qajar period, 1850-1874.
Museum description: Carved wooden spoon with a large boat-shaped bowl, long rhomboidal handle, and rosette at the join, elaborately carved in openwork. Made from six pieces of carved pearwood, each adhered with glue. The handle, circular dial, upper ladle, and lower attachement are each pierced with fine registers of intricate geometric designs interspersed with paisleys and floral sprays. The ladle is delicately carved in subtle relief on the exterior with a single floral scroll.
The museum records it as Carved pearwood, measuring Length 47 cm; Width 8 cm. These details come from the museum's own record; how far this object represents a wider collectible type has not yet been independently verified.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
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.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- Carved pearwood
- Dimensions
- Length 47 cm; Width 8 cm
Technical characteristics
- Technique
- Carved pearwood
- Place recorded
- Iran
Identification
- Museum object name
- Sherbet spoon
- Museum object number
- 1290-1874
- Museum system number
- O321803
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: confirm the wider type, maker and catalogue references against a specialist reference.