Fig Shaped Bowl Spoon
These fig shaped bowl spoon items are early silver spoons with distinct fig-shaped bowls, prized for their historical weight and craftsmanship.
Fig Shaped Bowl Spoon
When you search for fig shaped bowl spoon, you are looking at early silverware and flatware originating from the seventeenth century and the year nineteen twenty.
These silver spoons reflect the domestic dining and ceremonial practices of early modern England, featuring distinct fig-shaped bowls characteristic of the era.
How they were made
These items are fashioned entirely from solid sterling silver or standard silver, reflecting the metallurgical standards of the seventeenth century.
Each spoon is shaped by hand using traditional silversmithing techniques, resulting in robust bowls and distinct finials such as seals or slip tops.
Fig Shaped Bowl Spoon Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for fig shaped bowl spoon among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Some seventeenth-century diners carried their own silver spoons in dedicated leather cases to every dinner party.
What varies in quality
The standard of these silver spoons is judged by the clarity and legibility of their hallmarking, which identifies the maker and the year of production.
The integrity of the fig-shaped bowl and the original form of the terminal finial separate standard examples from finer survivals.
Jerimiah Johnson·Daniel Cary
The Fig Shaped Bowl Spoon Glossary
- Seal Top Spoon
- An early silver spoon featuring a flat, seal-like terminal at the end of the handle. This style was particularly popular in Tudor and seventeenth-century England.
- Slip Top Spoon
- A spoon with a handle that is cut off diagonally at the end, usually straight. It represents one of the simplest and earliest forms of spoon finials.
- Apostle Spoon
- A silver spoon with a handle terminating in a figure of an apostle holding a distinctive emblem. These were often given as christening gifts.
- Hallmark
- An official stamp applied to silver to guarantee its purity and origin. Early examples rely on these marks for precise dating.
Fig Shaped Bowl Spoon: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a fig shaped bowl spoon?
A fig shaped bowl spoon is an antique silver flatware piece featuring a distinct, pear-shaped or fig-shaped bowl typical of early seventeenth-century design.
These spoons often include traditional finials such as seals or slip tops rather than modern curved handles.
How old are these silver spoons?
The listings span periods from the seventeenth century, including the reigns of James the First and the Commonwealth era, alongside later twentieth-century interpretations.
Exact dates are typically confirmed by surviving silver hallmarks stamped directly onto the metal.
How were seal top spoons used?
Seal top spoons served as personal dining implements and status symbols during a period when guests often carried their own cutlery.
The flat terminal could also theoretically be used as a signet, though they primarily functioned as functional tableware.
What metal are these spoons made from?
These pieces are constructed entirely from solid silver or sterling silver. The weight and substance of the metal reflect the manufacturing standards of the period.
Over the centuries, the silver develops a natural patina that bears witness to its age and handling.