Post medieval pewter Spoon with Marked Bowl - Dutch - 183 mm

"Post-Medieval Dutch Pewter Spoon with Marked Bowl

Culture / Period: Post-Medieval Netherlands
Date / Period: 16th–17th century
Material: Pewter
Dimensions: Length 183 mm
Condition: Good condition, with surface wear, patina, and visible 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: 24

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 part of a private collection in the Netherlands since the 1960s/1970s.
No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the object was available.

Background Information:
This pewter spoon originates from the Netherlands and dates to the 16th–17th century, a period during which pewter tableware was widely used in domestic settings. Spoons of this type were essential utensils in everyday life and were commonly found in households across both urban and rural communities in the Dutch Republic.

The form, with its relatively shallow, rounded bowl and straight, tapering handle, is consistent with known Dutch examples from this period. The presence of a mark within the bowl is characteristic of Dutch pewter production. Such marks could serve as ownership marks or, in some cases, relate to workshop practices. While the exact attribution of the mark remains uncertain, it reflects a broader tradition within the Netherlands where pewterers operated within organised guild systems that regulated production standards and quality.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Netherlands was a major centre for trade and craftsmanship. Pewter objects were produced in significant quantities in cities such as Amsterdam, Haarlem, and Leiden, and were distributed widely both domestically and internationally. Such vessels were traded across large distances, reaching regions such as present-day Germany and the Netherlands, illustrating the extensive commercial networks of the Dutch Golden Age.

In daily use, spoons were personal and practical objects, often retained for long periods and sometimes passed down within families. Their durability made them reliable household items, and their survival today provides valuable insight into the material culture of the time.

This piece forms a tangible connection to the Dutch Post-Medieval world, in which objects of this kind played a practical role in daily life and reflect the craftsmanship and domestic traditions of the period."