Spoon

Art Historical Context

This elegant brass spoon, crafted in the 12th–13th century, exemplifies masterful metalworking traditions of the Islamic world. Standing at 8½ inches tall with a bowl diameter of 1⅞ inches, it was created through casting—pouring molten brass into mold for the basic form—and intricate engraving, a technique that allowed artisans to incise fine decorative patterns directly into the metal surface. Such methods were hallmarks of Islamic craftsmanship during the medieval period, transforming everyday utensils into objects of beauty and utility. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Islamic Ar...