30 January 2015

A 15th-century leather "spoon case"


From the collections of The British Museum.  Of European origin, perhaps Flemish.
...cups were provided by [the host], and were shared around the table during dining (although it was the guests’ responsibility to bring their own cutlery...
Assembled:


5 comments:

  1. Isn't it a lovely item! Of course, my family probably wasn't wealthy enough for a spoon and probably only used knives for everything. Or fingers. Gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "finger food"!

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  2. That's convenient! You automatically say a Hail Mary (aue maria) each time you put it in your mouth :) But seriously: that's a gorgeous piece.

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  3. there is another inscription on the case itself - which i cannot make out. :-(

    I-)

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    1. I believe it's aue maria as well -- only shown upside down.

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  4. "I was born with a plastic spoon in my mouth
    "The north side of my town faced east, and the east was facing south
    "And now you dare to look me in the eye
    "Those crocodile tears are what you cry
    It's a genuine problem, you won't try
    "To work it out at all you just pass it by, pass it by

    "Substitute me for him
    "Substitute my Coke for gin
    "Substitute you for my mum
    "At least I'll get my washing done."

    "Substitute" -- Pete Townsend

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