Posted 9 years ago
WiltshireG…
(3 items)
Intrigued by this object, a friend of mine gave it to me to investigate. Sadly, I've not been able to find much on it. It's 3 1/2 inches long, and is cold to the touch. Could it be ivory, bone, horn? My theory is that it might be an ear scoop/spoon, or a snuff spoon. I can't find anything with the carved hand detail, and don't know if it has any significance to any particular group/religion. My friend found it while having a house sort out, but has no idea where it came from. I have no idea how to categorise it, so will list it as a tools/instruments.
Opium spoon?
The tiny brown "peppering" throughout and lines here and there indicate that it is definitely bone, not ivory. Those specks are the remains of tiny blood lines that passed through the bone; ivory does not have that. At 3 1/2" it's way too large for an ear spoon. Possibly a snuff spoon but that's an awful lot of snuff. The opium connection is usually an over-romanticization. The hand has been a popular motif for centuries generally indicating friendship. These types of items are often referred to as "sailor's work" - said to be done on the long hours at sea - but they can just as easily have been commercial carvings made to be sold or, sometimes, native crafts made on contract.
Carved Bone Snuff Spoon.