**First Time At Auction**
Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 4th century CE. A shallow spoon made from 95.5% silver. The bowl is shaped like a teardrop, and the handle dwindles to a pointed tip at the end for use in extracting snails or seafood from their shells. The form is known as a cochlearium; cochlea is Latin for "snail." The bowl is joined to the handle by a curved, thick piece of silver. This spoon is a fascinating cultural object, often a prized personal item at a time when the average person owned very little; spoons made of precious metal were so highly valued that they were often listed in inventories of noble households. A fine example of this simple but precious utensil! Size: 5.6" L x 1" W (14.2 cm x 2.5 cm); quality of silver: 95.5%; weight: 16.5 grams
Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection, acquired 1990s
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Condition
Nicks to bowl edge and age commensurate surface wear. Slight bending to handle. Scattered mineral and earthen deposits and dark patina.