Spoon History: Origin and Evolution

In European culture, no one can do without a spoon. It is made from different materials. The size and shape of the tableware depends on its purpose: coffee, tea, dessert. We immediately understand what we will eat this or that dish, and we don’t even think about who invented this object and when it acquired the usual appearance for us.

A spoon is such an ancient invention that it is impossible to establish the time period of its existence. Researchers call different dates of her birth, the estimated age ranges from three to seven thousand years. The origin of the name of this word is not even known. Linguists see the common Slavic root in the words “lick” or “crawl”, as well as “log”, which means “deepening”. Perhaps the origin of the Greek - "swallow".

Primitive people used the similarity of spoons; these were sea shells, halves of a nutshell or bent, dense leaves of plants. Until now, some tribes in Africa and South America have used instead convenient mollusk shells. The first spoons made by people looked like small clay ladles with short handles. Later, wood, bones and horns of animals were used to create this item, and even later, metal.

Excavations have confirmed that in Ancient Egypt, cutlery was used in the fifth century BC, - similar stone products were found. The ancient Greeks made spoons from mother of pearl shells. Archaeologists have found similarities to tableware from animal horns and fish bones dating back to the third millennium BC.During the heyday of Roman Greek civilization appeared bronze and silver appliances used to eat food.

In Russia, spoons began to be used several centuries earlier than in other European countries. The annals mention the order of Prince Vladimir (X century) to the craftsmen for the manufacture of silver spoons for his entire squad. By this time in Russia, wooden spoons were already used everywhere. In some families, craftsmen themselves made devices for eating food. But in most cases they used the products of artisan spoons. The following materials were used as material: aspen, maple, birch, linden, plum, apple tree. These were simple and practical products. Carved and painted, they became much later.

In addition to Italy and Greece, familiar with cutlery from ancient times, in the XIII century, spoons of silver appeared among the peoples of Europe. The handles depicted the disciples of Jesus Christ, therefore, tableware was called "apostolic spoons."

In the XV century, in addition to bronze and silver, they began to make tableware from copper and brass. Metal was still considered the privilege of the rich, the poor used wood products.

Peter the Great went on a visit with his cutlery. Following his example, the custom was established in Russia: going to visit, take a spoon with you. In the XVIII century, when aluminum was discovered, the first cutlery made of this metal was served only to respected guests, the rest was eaten using silver utensils. In the same century, round spoons acquired a familiar and convenient oval appearance. In addition, the entrenched fashion of drinking tea has led to the production of cutlery of various sizes. By this time include the appearance of teaspoons, and a little more - and coffee.

The German E. Geithner was the first in Europe (1825) to produce cutlery from an alloy of copper, zinc and nickel, he called it argentan. The alloy was cheaper than silver, so many European manufacturers began to use it for their products. Today, such spoons are called cupronickel, and they still have not lost their popularity.

The discovery of stainless steel at the beginning of the last century was a turning point in the history of cutlery. Now this metal formed the basis of 80% of all spoons on the planet. Chrome, which is part of the product, protects it from corrosion.

Today, spoons are made from various metals and alloys, but table silver is still held in high esteem.

Spoons seem like ordinary, familiar kitchen utensils. But, having traveled a long historical path, they became participants in many interesting stories. For example, not everyone knows where the expression “beat the buck” came from, although everyone knows that they say so about lazy people. In the case of spoons, there is a simple lesson - to break logs into pieces (buckles), which become preparations for future products. In the production of spoons, it was considered easy to beat the buckler and entrusted to the most inept apprentices.

In the old days, everyone had his own spoon. When the first teeth appeared in the newborn and he began to receive other food than mother's milk, he was given a small spoon. It was believed: if it is made of silver or gold, the baby in the future will not need anything. Modern people often turn to the custom, giving the baby a silver spoon “in the tooth”.

People believed in other signs associated with cutlery:

• by accidentally putting two spoons in one cup, you can expect a wedding;
• the spoon fell from the table - wait for a woman to visit, a knife was dropped - a man will come;
• the extra cutlery was on the table during a family dinner - there will be a guest;
• you can not knock on the table with a spoon - trouble will come;
• those who lick a spoon after a meal will have a happy marriage.

A table subject also played a role in the student life of the past. In the 19th century, young people studying at Kazan University placed teaspoons under the cupboard before each exam in order to successfully pass the tests. It is difficult to say what meaning was invested in this sign, but students believed that it works. At Cambridge University, a spoon was used for another reason: a grand cutlery almost the size of a man was cut out of wood and presented to the most retarded student as a sign of comfort.

The famous master of surrealism Salvador Dali used a spoon as an alarm clock. He attached great importance to daytime sleep, but did not want to spend too much time on it. Falling asleep in his favorite chair, the artist held a table object in his hands. When he fell, Dali woke up from the sound. This time was enough for him to restore strength to continue working.

In the next video, the story of a spoon in pictures awaits you.