Mosgau Franz - Berlin - Spoon - shell-shaped serving spoon - .800 silver

Antique German Silver Serving Spoon with Shell-Shaped Bowl.

Elegant antique serving spoon featuring a silver handle and a gilt metal bowl finely shaped as a stylised shell, a classic and decorative form associated with refined table service.

The handle is richly decorated with repeating relief motifs and bears the German crescent moon and crown hallmark, confirming 800 silver standard. It is additionally marked FZM, identifying the maker as Franz Mosgau, an established Berlin silversmith active in the late 19th and early 20th century.

The contrast between the bright silver handle and the warm gilt bowl gives this piece both elegance and practicality, as gilding was traditionally used to protect food from reacting with silver.

This type of shell-shaped serving spoon was commonly used for:

Serving strawberries, berries, or fruit salads

Presenting whipped cream, custard, or soft desserts

Serving shellfish or seafood accompaniments

Decorative use on a formal table or buffet

Silversmith
Franz Mosgau worked in Berlin and is known for producing high-quality table silver in traditional and historicist styles. Pieces bearing the FZM mark are well regarded for their solid construction and refined detailing, making them attractive to collectors of German silver.

Likely produced circa 1890–1920, corresponding to the late Wilhelminian period / early 20th century, when ornamental yet functional serving pieces were fashionable in middle- and upper-class households.


Origin: Germany

Silver standard: 800 (crescent moon & crown)

Silversmith: Franz Mosgau, Berlin (FZM)

Length: approx. 21 cm
Width (bowl): approx. 7.5 cm
Weight: approx. 54 g

Condition: Good antique condition with light wear consistent with age and use

A charming and practical antique serving piece that combines decorative appeal with everyday functionality—ideal for collectors or refined table settings.

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