Featured Pair 1786 spoons

I found examples of this general form from about half of the countries in Europe as well as one made by Fabrege in Russia. Mine are either unmarked or the marks have long been worn away. Sometimes I doubt the inscriptions on some of these ornate European spoons but these two seem honest to me. Does anyone have an opinion on their origin? I thought the Nordic area before seeing examples from Russia, Germany, and elsewhere.

 

The monogram initials look English, to me. But that doesn't mean anything. You are correct in that there are very similar examples by German, Swedish and Dutch silversmiths.

 

I'm drawn to spoons in general, especially those extraordinary in design aspects, like yours.
Those teardrop bowls are right precious, Dagger...Thanks!

 

Interesting thought on the look of the engraving. The rest of the small collection that was presented for sale was 100% American and English from what I could tell.

 

I’m a spoon guy too. They are fascinating bits of social history as I see it. We all had/have to eat. Utensils aren’t exciting really but something about their mundanity in a way makes them interesting to me. These ones aren’t mundane necessarily but I like all types.

 

I know nothing, but those are fab!

 

They are cherub/angel spoons (kerubsked/kerubske/kerubskje), a Scandinavian form dating back to the late 16th century, most common in the 17th - with masks on the front and back, or less common, two additional on the sides for four masks. The original spoons had shorter stems (a full twist-stem would be atypical) and the bowls larger and wider (though still fig-shaped), intended for dipping brandy or wine from a bowl, or for soup, they were often engraved and presented as gifts. Scandinavian makers produced replicas and spoons based on the earlier pieces for various uses, typically mid 19th to early 20th century, and German makers also produced similar. In my personal experience, can't say I've run across this form bearing Russian or Dutch marks.

There may well be worn marks on yours, and really no reason they couldn't have been produced in the late 18th century, but dating can't be firmly based on an engraving without marks or provenance that would support it. Personally, my feelings vary every time I view your spoons, so I can't say that I even have an opinion...

This 2013 auction shows a Danish kerubske from 1708, along with an 1891 Peter Hertz piece:




Relatively close to your engraved date, 1774 Danish spoon from Rainwater's 'Spoons Around the World' (1976):




Two Swedish kerubskedar, late 17th-early 18th century, from Lightbown's 'Catalogue of Scandinavian and Baltic Silver' (1975):




1689 Norwegian kerubskje from Lightbown's 'Catalogue of Scandinavian and Baltic Silver' (1975):




17th century Norwegian, from Fossberg's 'Norske Sølv-Skjeer' (1974):





I have quite a few cherub spoons in my collection, all from the mid 19th to early 20th - this pair was purchased together and bear the same engraved monogram, the one on the right from 1872 by prominent Danish maker Peter Hertz is 11.5", the one on the left, 1873 by an undetermined maker is 1/4" shorter, the Hertz piece is much better made and weighs 115 grams compared to 65 for the other spoon, which also has a repair.








~Cheryl

 

Dragon..... u do go above and beyond...!!!

 

That was a great read! Thank you for taking the time to share your research!

 

Thanks for sharing the information, historic examples, and examples from your collection!

With the worn down faces on mine I actually thought I was looking at more of a ladies face than a cherubs face but I guess not. I suppose it’s possible that that mine could have been made previous to the date engraved on them. I don’t think it was uncommon to gift older silver, newly inscribed. I’m not saying I think that’s the case necessarily but it’s possible. It could possibly account for why the time period they were engraved wasn’t as common a time period for their production. I have to admit though that if it wasn’t for the inscriptions looking honest to me that I wouldn’t have guessed these were produced in the 18th century. They don’t otherwise scream that old to me when I look at them.

 

Here is the Russian example I found that resembles mine. I does feature a lady though rather than cherubs.

 

Cherubim are angels, represented in various forms, usually human, and could be male or female, represented as adult or child - there was a variety of faces found on cherub spoons (and the gender not always clear)...

Personally, believe it's unlikely your spoons date earlier than the 1789 date, and question if they are even that old. Do believe they have some decent age, but Scandinavian replicas often have dates centuries earlier than their actual production, and should also be kept in mind that there may have been intention to deceptively insinuate greater age.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/285392086862


That is a German spoon I've seen before, Bulgaria is a very common source of Russian silver fakes, but at least this seller states in their description, "The pattern of this spoon is from Koch & Bergfeld, Bremen, was supplied to Fabergé and sold by this company."
Koch & Bergfeld did export goods to Russia, including to Fabergé, might question whether the marks are right, but not really my area...

Here is another bearing 1886+ Koch & Bergfeld marks, retailed by Julius Herz:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/153200228608




~Cheryl

 

I always think of cherubs as round faced boys so it’s good to know that isn’t always the case!

I also don’t believe they are older but I couldn’t count it out entirely as a possibility. I’m aware of the replica date issue but did feel these seemed right. Can’t say for sure though obviously.

I didn’t read further in the Fabrege listing. That’s interesting that it is a German export piece! I did see that other example by K&B/Herz piece in my searches. The Fabrege marks did look a bit off to me too.

Thanks for your insights!