Marrow scoop, Wirgman, John, 1748-1749
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1748-1749
Marrow scoop, Wirgman, John, 1748-1749 is an object recorded by Victoria and Albert Museum, dated 1748-1749. The museum's brief description reads: Silver, London hallmarks for 1748-1749, possibly made by John Wirgman..
Museum description: Marrow scoop of silver. A broad and narrow scoop joined by a plain stem. The museum record gives material recorded as silver; measurements Length 22.2 cm; Width 2.5 cm; place associated: London; maker recorded: Wirgman, John. These details come from the holding 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
Object TypeThe marrow scoop was one of a number of utensils designed to serve and eat marrow, the jelly from beef bones. The savoury fattiness of marrow was highly prized and with the refinement of table manners in the 17th century new implements evolved for eating it more elegantly. Marrow scoops were made in large numbers in the 18th and 19th centuries. In Victorian Edinburgh, for example, enthusiasts met at the Marrow Bone Club and each member had a heavy silver scoop ornamented with marrow bones.Design & DesigningThe first utensil specifically designed for eating bone marrow was the marrow spoon. It was developed in the 1680s and had a spoon-shaped bowl with the handle formed as a scoop to extract the marrow. The marrow scoop evolved from this spoon design in the early 18th century. At least one marrow fork from the same period has also survived. The marrow scoop was made in two forms. The first was a single-ended scoop with one narrow channel and a handle; this was easier to hold. The second was the double-ended scoop, as here, where the unequal width of the channel enabled marrow to be extracted from large and small bones. Early pieces were broader and smaller than the elegant, elongated scoops of the mid and late 18th century. In the next century they were often made to match the rest of the cutlery service.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- silver
- Dimensions
- Length 22.2 cm; Width 2.5 cm
Technical characteristics
- Technique
- Silver, forged
- Maker recorded
- Wirgman, John
- Place recorded
- London
Design
- Inscriptions recorded
- London hallmarks for 1748-49; Mark of John Wirgman (?)
Identification
- Museum attribution
- Wirgman, John
- Museum object name
- Marrow scoop
- Museum object number
- 144-1903
- Museum system number
- O77409
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 materials, dimensions, maker and wider type against the museum record and a specialist reference.