It is a versatile tool that can also be used for removing snow, spreading mulch, or even for scooping up pet food. Condiment spoons have been produced since the late 17th Century and were multi-purpose in use. The earliest types were in the Trefid Pattern with oval bowls. Distinctive salt spoons were produced from the mid-18th Century and can be classified into two main types; ladles and shovels. Ladles are distinguished by their deep round or oval bowls (see above photo), whereas shovels have flat oblong bowls with sides either wholly or partly along two edges. The earliest form was the shovel, which was produced throughout the 18thCentury. Salt ladles were first made during the rococo period, were cast, and either highly decorative or in the whiplash form popular during the 1750’s. Throughout the 19thCentury they generally have a similar evolution to the mustard spoon, conforming to canteens and becoming smaller in the 20thCentury.

Shovel Spoon Plant Pot Shaped Novelty Mug Complete with Silver Shovel Spoon

The size of the blade can make it difficult to maneuver in tight spaces or when trying to scoop small amounts of material. Four top-marked stamps; lion passant, maker, date letter and duty mark (i.e. still no leopards head crowned). MOST COLLECTABLE:early examples, cast examples, attractive decoration, unusual form, Scottish & Irish Provincial, rare marks. A shovel is mostly used outdoors for digging in soil, sand, or snow, while a spoon is typically used indoors for eating or cooking.

Asparagus Tongs

Some shovels even have special features, such as a serrated edge to help with cutting through tough soil or a long handle to help with reaching into deep holes. MOST COLLECTABLE:Early examples (esp. Rococo style), Irish hook-ends, rare marks & unusual patterns. MOST COLLECTABLE:Canon handled & other early 18thCentury examples, Scottish Provincial & Irish, sought after makers & unusual patterns.

Shovel Teaspoon - Etsy UK Shovel Teaspoon - Etsy UK

The earliest form has a very short handle and dessert spoon sized bowl. A second form is often referred to as an invalid's spoon and has a part covered bowl with an aperture at the tip to allow drinking without spillage and dates from the end of the 18th Century. This form of spoon was revived in the 20th Century. The third type dates from the mid 19th Century and has two different sized bowls at either end of the central stem. They occasionally occur in presentation boxes, presumably given as gifts to members of the medical profession. The most sought after medicine spoon is the very rare Gibson's patent dating from the 1820's, it has a push-down stem which forces open the hinged covered section of the bowl and allows control on the quantity of medicine administered (see picture). Shovels are also used for digging foundations and trenches in construction projects, while spoons are used to stir, serve, and eat food. Generally smaller in size to a teaspoon, and become progressively smaller through the 19th and into the Similar in appearance to the covered bowl medicine spoon, the moustache spoon became popular in the mid-Victorian era to protect those large handlebar moustaches from soup. They have a strip of silver across the bowl with the opening to the left-hand side of the bowl - I'm yet to find one to the right-hand side for left-handed men!First appearing in the late 18th century, stilton scoops are now highly sought after, both as a collectable and practical item. Early examples tended to have ivory or bone handles, towards the middle of the 19th Century they also appeared in the standard pattern form. Very small in size is the diminutive snuff spoon. They are generally less than three inches in length with the bowl proportionately reduced in size. Confusion can be made with miniature or toy spoons. They were made from the early 18th century. Beware ofForgeries. Butter spades have a triangular or heart shaped blade usually connected to a round, turned ivory or wooden handle, although completely silver examples are found. They are very collectable and generally date from the mid-late 18thCentury. Examples from late Victorian and Edwardian times are found, often attractively engraved with mother of pearl handles. The blades of shovels can also be made from different materials, such as steel, aluminum, or plastic. The combination of beauty in form and the availability of this type of spoon means that the table spoon is one of the most collectable of flatware items. Originally a multi-purpose item, but also used for serving, or in sets of six as soup spoons. The title of "table" is generally only applied to this size spoon from the end of the 17thCentury, when dessert, tea, basting spoons etc. came into general use. The above photo shows from left to right a table, a dessert and a tea-sized spoon.