A SMALL COLLECTION OF ANTIQUE SILVER
AND OBJECTS OF VERTU
silver marrow scoop (marrow spoon) - England
this is a George III silver marrow scoop (or marrow spoon) made in London in 1810 by silversmith SH (maybe Samuel Hennel). The marrow scoop has Georgian hallmarks and a monogram D at the center of the handle.
The long narrow gulley of the spoon, allowed one to remove marrow from the bone. These spoons were widely used during the reign of Queen Anne, when marrow was considered quite a delicacy and meat was a luxury only the rich could afford on a regular basis.
The marrow spoon was made of silver because that would fit in best with the rest of the fancy silver dishes and utensils on a dining room table and, moreover, a wood or a tin marrow spoon would probably break while digging inside the bone.
Examples of marrow spoons can be found as early as the 1690s and were an integral part of many travelling canteens.
By the end of the 18th century, marrow spoons had become quite rare and were rapidly being superseded by marrow scoops.
This scoop is 9 3/4 in. long (cm. 24,5) and was bought from an US dealer through the Internet.
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