Post-Medieval Dutch Pewter Spoon with Marked Bowl Culture / Period: Post-Medieval Netherlands Date / Period: 16th–17th century Material: Pewter Dimensions: Length 179 mm Condition: Good condition, with surface wear, patina, and signs of age consistent with prolonged use No shipping outside the European Union. Due to complex export regulations concerning cultural goods, this item cannot be shipped outside the EU. Please ensure you have a delivery address within the European Union before placing a bid. Provenance information: Object Registration ID: 30 The current owner purchased the object from a private collector, N.N., in Spaarndam. The previous owner, a private collector, N.N. from Spaarndam (the Netherlands), stated that the object had been in his collection since an unknown date. According to the previous owner, the object had previously been in a private collection in the Netherlands since the 1960s/1970s. No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the object was available from the previous owner. Background Information: This Dutch pewter spoon dates to the 16th–17th century and belongs to the wider tradition of Post-Medieval domestic tableware used in the Netherlands. Spoons of this kind were practical household utensils, intended for eating and serving food, and would have been familiar objects in daily life across both urban and rural settings. The spoon has a plain but functional form, with a broad rounded bowl and a straight handle. A clearly visible mark appears within the bowl, close to the junction with the handle. Such marks are characteristic of pewter wares of the period and may relate to workshop practice, quality control, or ownership. Without a secure reading or documented attribution, the exact meaning of the mark cannot be confirmed, but its presence reflects the organised nature of pewter production in the early modern Netherlands. During the 16th and 17th centuries, pewter was widely used for spoons, plates, dishes, and drinking vessels. It offered a practical alternative to silver while remaining durable and suitable for repeated domestic use. Production took place within an established craft tradition, often under the supervision of urban guilds, where standards of manufacture and trade were regulated. In this respect, the spoon is part of a broader and well-organised world of Dutch craftsmanship rather than an isolated utilitarian object. The Netherlands occupied an important position in European trade during this period, and everyday goods circulated widely through local and regional exchange networks. Objects of this kind were part of the material culture of the Dutch early modern household, reflecting ordinary dining customs and the practical needs of daily life. Dating to the 16th–17th century places this piece within the broader historical context of the Dutch early modern period, when commerce, craft production, and domestic life were closely interconnected. It forms a tangible connection to the ancient world, in which objects of this kind played a practical role in daily use.