A Fine Collection of Six Ottoman Sherbert Spoons
A Fine Collection of Six Ottoman Sherbert Spoons
a Coral and black enamelled metal stem with a turned coconut bowl
b Ivory, cut steel and coral stem with a carved ebony bowl
c Walrus ivory, coral and black enamelled metal stem with a carved walrus ivory bowl
d Faceted agates, coral, ivory and amber stem with a carved elephant ivory bowl
e Whalebone, silver and coral handle with a carved tortoiseshell bowl
f Horn, mother-of-pearl, coral and brass studded stem with a carved horn bowl
Late 18th – early 19th Centuries
Size : 26 cm long – 10¼ ins long ( largest ) – 21 cm long – 8¼ ins long ( smallest )
C - sold
a Coral and black enamelled metal stem with a turned coconut bowl
b Ivory, cut steel and coral stem with a carved ebony bowl
c Walrus ivory, coral and black enamelled metal stem with a carved walrus ivory bowl
d Faceted agates, coral, ivory and amber stem with a carved elephant ivory bowl
e Whalebone, silver and coral handle with a carved tortoiseshell bowl
f Horn, mother-of-pearl, coral and brass studded stem with a carved horn bowl
Late 18th – early 19th Centuries
Size : 26 cm long – 10¼ ins long ( largest ) – 21 cm long – 8¼ ins long ( smallest )
C - sold
Large sets of these beautiful spoons were produced for the use of the Grand Viziers at their meetings in the Divan ( the Kubbe Alti ) in the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul. The ladies of the Palace harem would also use such spoons for compotes of dried fruit known as 'ho?af'.
The use of forks for eating at table was a western European practice developed in the Renaissance and although knives were used in the east for cutting up meat, spoons such as these would be used to help oneself from a communal dish of soup or stew. The nearer side of the spoon being used for eating or sipping and the far side for helping oneself.
However, the use of spoons at table was frowned upon by strict orthodox Muslims who held that the prophet found his right hand quite adequate as a tool for eating.
The use of forks for eating at table was a western European practice developed in the Renaissance and although knives were used in the east for cutting up meat, spoons such as these would be used to help oneself from a communal dish of soup or stew. The nearer side of the spoon being used for eating or sipping and the far side for helping oneself.
However, the use of spoons at table was frowned upon by strict orthodox Muslims who held that the prophet found his right hand quite adequate as a tool for eating.
A Fine Collection of Six Ottoman Sherbert Spoons
SOLD