Acorn-top spoon
Unknown Artist
second half 16th century
Medium
Wood, silver
Dimensions
Overall: 1 15/16 × 6 1/2 in. (4.9 × 16.5 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Silver In Combination
Culture
German or Dutch
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Samuel P. Avery, 1897
Accession Number
97.2.139
Tags
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative Arts, this charming *Acorn-top spoon* to the second half of 16th century and hails from German or Dutch craftsmanship. Crafted from wood with silver accents, it measures a dainty 1 15/16 × 6 1/2 inches (4.9 × 16.5 cm). The handle culminates in a finely detailed silver acorn finial, blending organic naturalism with precious metalwork—a hallmark of Renaissance-era decorative arts. In the late 16th century, Northern European artisans elevated everyday utensils like spoons into objects of beauty and status. Classified a...