Lepel met ovale bak en rechte steel met een ruitvormige doorsnede c. 1590 - 1596

This is an anonymous, metal spoon, held at the Rijksmuseum. Utilitarian objects like this spoon are often overlooked, yet they offer a tangible connection to the everyday lives and material conditions of past societies. Consider who might have owned and used this spoon, and what meals it may have served. Was it a tool of sustenance for someone struggling with poverty, or a simple luxury of a more privileged existence? Was it used within a family home, or as part of a communal setting? The lack of specific information about its origins invites us to reflect on the countless untold stories of ordinary people and their reliance on such implements. This spoon serves as a poignant reminder of the silent, shared experiences of humanity across time.