Spoon 1716 - 1720

This silver spoon was crafted by Marcantonio Landi, likely in the early 18th century. Consider how the spoon, a humble instrument of nourishment, becomes elevated through the spiraled handle, reminiscent of the caduceus, a symbol of commerce and negotiation, or the rod of Asclepius, associated with medicine and healing. The intertwined helix form recalls the ancient motif of snakes or serpents, figures that appear in countless myths and legends across cultures. Think of the serpent in the Garden of Eden, or the ouroboros, the snake eating its own tail, representing cyclicality and eternal return. This form stirs deep within our collective memory, a symbol of transformation and the duality of life and death. Through time, the spoon has transcended its mere function, embodying symbolic weight and reminding us of the non-linear pathways through which cultural memory evolves, constantly reshaped by our subconscious and our shared human experience.