who invented the spoon
The history of the spoon is really curious. Currently we see it as normal to see this object on a table, but you should know that over time this has not always been the case. At , https://kitchensaccessories.com/ we explain the origin of the spoon , who invented it, when, and how it has evolved over time.
Origin of the spoon
The spoon appears relatively late. Since it is an object not lacking in some sophistication (unlike the knife , a tool that is almost a million years old). Primitive man used sea shells to put liquid food in his mouth De él. Since the soup was one of the gastronomic discoveries of the Neolithic . He was born with a sedentary life once man discovered the advantages of agriculture and grazing; it is therefore a civilized article.
The spoon was invented by primitive man in prehistoric times 20,000 years ago . At least as understood in the modern sense, with a wide mouth like a bowl with a long, pointed handle.
The first spoons in history were also used to carve meat, since basically it was a combination of spoon-fork-knife , having in one the three important uses of the table.
History of the spoon in Ancient Egypt
Despite the fact that Neolithic spoons from twenty thousand years ago have been found in archaeological sites , it was in Ancient Egypt where its use became widespread. Having found spoons of ivory, stone , wood and even gold in funerary trousseau in Egyptian tombs , it shows that that civilization gave great importance to this object.
In the elaboration of those ancient Egyptian spoons , small works of art were created. The handles served as a support on which to sculpt small sculptures, as shown by some specimens found in Thebes with the figure of the goddess Isis, among other divinities.
Its use was not exclusive to the kitchen or the table, but perhaps the spoons destined for temple ceremonies stood out: long and beautiful stylized spoons for incense and odorous substances .
Teaspoons whose handles had the shape of a human or of sacred animals were also used in cosmetics . Also in the temple of Solomon, from the 10th century BC, gold spoons were used in the ceremonial and complex liturgy.
History of the spoon in Ancient Greece
The wealthy ancient Greeks used gold, silver and even ivory spoons, while the common people used bronze spoons or carved their huge soup spoons out of wood. With which they used to eat eggs, a food they were very fond of. They also carved beautiful sculptures on their handles that enhanced the humble utensil.
History of the spoon in Rome
In Ancient Rome they gave the spoon an additional use by making them with pointed handles that functioned as primitive forks , ideal for eating shellfish or breaking the shell of eggs . Ultimately, it was common to use this utensil only to remove bones, waste or food that was not put in the mouth from the plate.
History of the spoon in the Middle Ages
The history of the table spoon is basically Western : in the Middle Ages, a self-respecting citizen would do his best to acquire his silver spoon as a sign of success and status . But we must not forget that at that time both the people and the great lords used their fingers to eat, as did the Homeric heroes in the 8th century BC.
Spoons were also used in religious and noble rituals: the coronation spoon of the English Court had a long handle and ended in a bowl or bowl : it was used to anoint the king in the aforementioned ceremony. In an inventory of silver owned by Edward I of England, called the Long, from the late 13th century , only one silver spoon is mentioned.
At the beginning of the 14th century , Queen Clementina of Hungary already had 33 examples of spoons and a single fork. Count John of Evreux , Constable of France at the beginning of the 15th century, owned 64 spoons and one fork.
Instead, medieval people used wooden or bone spoons, sometimes even human bone spoons, as was the case with certain spoons found in eastern Europe. There were also tin spoons without missing silver spoons or those carved in gold , which more than eating utensils were small jewels.
As for their shape , they ended in a bowl that tended to have the shape of a fig: ideas were also accepted by the manufacturer, who preferred one shape or another. As for the handle , it used to end in a maiden’s head, in honor of the Virgin, or in that of the apostles, with sets of twelve normally being ordered or thirteen if Jesus was included.
During the fifteenth century the“Apostle’s spoons” became fashionable . They were made of silver with the figure of the patron saint of the person who used it, a spoon that soon became the ideal gift for newborns .
In the Spain of Cervantes, they spoke of spoon or ” spoon “, indicating that the etymology of the word refers to the Latin word cochlear, used to refer to the ladle , a term that recalls the ancient use of sea shells used as spoons. .
Among the people of the countryside it was common to make bread spoons , to eat lentils, chickpeas or broad beans: once the meal was finished they ate the spoon, already softened and soaked. Hence the saying: ” It lasts as long as it lasts, like a spoon of bread “, with which it was implied how brief a situation is or how little things last in life.
History of the spoon in the Modern Age
Between the end of the 16th century , the entire 17th century and throughout the 18th century , silver spoons abounded in the houses of the bourgeoisie and the nobility. It was then that they stopped being made with the pointed handle for two reasons. It caused accidents and the fork already existed to pierce the pieces of meat and take them to the mouth.
In addition, rounded-handled spoons were safer and more elegant. In addition to the fact that the initial of the owner’s last name and even the shield could be engraved on them . Naturally, the spoons were taken by the Spanish to the New World , gradually extending their use to all the lands and countries of the Americas .
In Spain in the 17th and 18th centuries, the city specialized in the manufacture of spoons for this type of luxury items was Reus , although it was a particularly thriving industry in Gerona , whose briar or boxwood spoons were sold in Europe. There were also ox horn spoons , but they reached prohibitive prices.
Today it seems normal to us when we are invited to eat to see spoon, fork and knife displayed on the table, however this custom is relatively recent. Only two hundred years ago the guest had to bring their own cutlery with them . Thus, when people traveled he took his spoon, fork and knife and had a servant in charge of the trousseau.
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