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Pair of sherbet spoons

Title	Pair of sherbet spoons
Publication Date:	1850
Publication Place	Iran (made) -
Subject	Woodwork
Type	Other
Language	Undetermined
Digital	Yes
Manuscript	No
Physical Dimensions	Length: 35.5 cm, Width: 6cm
Library:	Victoria and Albert Museum
Library Asset ID	W.340-1921
Record ID	W.340-1921
Library Location	Middle East Section
Date	1850
Notes	The finesse in which this spoon was carved suggests its use for dignitary or elite members of society during banquets or special ceremonies. Indeed, Iranian paintings from the early to mid-nineteenth century show such spoons placed delicately along the edges of large porcelain bowls, floating upon the surface, the contents of which contained sherbet. These spoons were used communally amongst guests, often with several guests drinking from the same spoon. Major R. Murdoch Smith discusses the Iranian town of Abadeh (between Isfahan and Shiraz) as being the main centre of Persian wood carving during the period of 1800-1900. This town was famous for its elaborately carved spoons (qashuq) and small boxes, all made of either pear or lime wood, and carved with a common pocket-knife.
Malzemeler ve teknikler	Carved pear wood; painted red and green
Parçalar	Sherbet Spoon, Sherbet Spoon
Fiziksel açıklama	Carved wooden spoon with a large boat-shaped bowl, long rhomboidal handle, and rosette at the join, elaborately carved in openwork. Made of a single piece of wood, the handles carved in a pierced geometric pattern with small stylized birds along the edges, each painted with small red dots. A Persian inscription painted in green decorates the upper part of each handle. Ladle of the spoons remain undecorated.

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Victoria and Albert Museum

Pair of sherbet spoons

Publication Date 1850

Publication Place Iran (made) -

Subject Woodwork

Type Other

Language Undetermined

Digital Yes

Manuscript No

Physical Dimensions Length: 35.5 cm, Width: 6cm

Library Victoria and Albert Museum

Library Asset ID W.340-1921

Record ID W.340-1921

Library Location Middle East Section

Date 1850

Notes The finesse in which this spoon was carved suggests its use for dignitary or elite members of society during banquets or special ceremonies. Indeed, Iranian paintings from the early to mid-nineteenth century show such spoons placed delicately along the edges of large porcelain bowls, floating upon the surface, the contents of which contained sherbet. These spoons were used communally amongst guests, often with several guests drinking from the same spoon. Major R. Murdoch Smith discusses the Iranian town of Abadeh (between Isfahan and Shiraz) as being the main centre of Persian wood carving during the period of 1800-1900. This town was famous for its elaborately carved spoons (qashuq) and small boxes, all made of either pear or lime wood, and carved with a common pocket-knife.

Malzemeler ve teknikler Carved pear wood; painted red and green

Parçalar Sherbet Spoon, Sherbet Spoon

Fiziksel açıklama Carved wooden spoon with a large boat-shaped bowl, long rhomboidal handle, and rosette at the join, elaborately carved in openwork. Made of a single piece of wood, the handles carved in a pierced geometric pattern with small stylized birds along the edges, each painted with small red dots. A Persian inscription painted in green decorates the upper part of each handle. Ladle of the spoons remain undecorated.