Alaskan Native Carved Wooden Spoon with Scrollwork Handle
Late 19th or Early 20th Century — c. 1880–1920
- Material
- Wood
- Use
- Serving
- Century
- 19th century CE
- Size
- Wumbo
- Provenance
- Owner's collection
Dimensions2 measurements
- Overall length
- 31 cm
- Overall width
- 8.5 cm
Catalogue Note
A handsome wooden serving spoon of substantial proportions, the deep bowl burnished to a warm honey-brown patina by long use. The handle rises from the bowl with elegant restraint, culminating in a finely carved knop adorned with scrolling acanthus-leaf ornament characteristic of late Victorian or Edwardian taste. The carving is crisp and confident, suggesting professional hand-work rather than factory production. Overall wear is consistent with a utilitarian kitchen piece that has served faithfully for many decades.
Spoon Lore
Carved wooden spoons remained in daily kitchen use throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, valued for their durability, warmth to the hand, and the folk belief that wood was gentler to cooking vessels than metal—a practical wisdom that modern non-stick cookware has vindicated.
From the collection of
Hannah Kim