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1985

  • We acquired this object.

2004

2006

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2025

  • You found it!

Folding Fork and Spoon Bowl with Eagle Finial Fork And Spoon Bowl

This is a fork and spoon bowl. It is dated early 17th century and we acquired it in 1985. Its medium is silver. It is a part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts department.

These sets of forks and spoons, which both fold and share one handle, were convenient for travel, but less useful at the table than sets with handles for each ("Feeding Desire: Design and the Tools of the Table, 1500 -2005," May - August 13, 2006).

This object was donated by Eleanor L. Metzenberg. It is credited The Robert L. Metzenberg Collection, gift of Eleanor L. Metzenberg.

Its dimensions are

L x W x D (Overall, (a) fork and (b) spoon bowl): 19.5 × 5 × 3.7 cm (7 11/16 × 1 15/16 × 1 7/16 in.) L x W x D ((a) fork): 16 × 1.5 × 1 cm (6 5/16 × 9/16 × 3/8 in.) L x W x D ((b) spoon bowl): 7 × 5 × 1.5 cm (2 3/4 × 1 15/16 × 9/16 in.)

It has the following markings

On top of stem on (a), stamped: [1] swan in oval; French import mark 1893-1970 Tardy, SILVER (1981) p. 208 On back of spoon bowl (b), stamped: [2] "0" in oval with crown on top Tardy, SILVER (1981) p. 134 or p. 316? [3] two illegible marks

It is signed

Later engraved

It is inscribed

On reverse of spoon bowl (b), engraved in script: [1] R. Bijlsma, Anno 1751 (later engraving)

Cite this object as

Folding Fork and Spoon Bowl with Eagle Finial Fork And Spoon Bowl; Netherlands; silver; L x W x D (Overall, (a) fork and (b) spoon bowl): 19.5 × 5 × 3.7 cm (7 11/16 × 1 15/16 × 1 7/16 in.) L x W x D ((a) fork): 16 × 1.5 × 1 cm (6 5/16 × 9/16 × 3/8 in.) L x W x D ((b) spoon bowl): 7 × 5 × 1.5 cm (2 3/4 × 1 15/16 × 9/16 in.); The Robert L. Metzenberg Collection, gift of Eleanor L. Metzenberg; 1985-103-102-a,b

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Feeding Desire: Design and the Tools of the Table, 1500-2005.

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<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://www-4.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18803649/ |title=Folding Fork and Spoon Bowl with Eagle Finial Fork And Spoon Bowl |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=11 February 2025 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>