Spoon c. 6th - 7th century

This spoon was made in Byzantium, today’s Istanbul, out of silver. Though the date of its making is unknown, it’s interesting to speculate on its function as an object of status. In Byzantium, silver objects were luxury goods, often adorning the tables of the wealthy. But a spoon suggests something more intimate than display: it points towards the rituals of eating and drinking. What kind of social dynamic is implied by the possession and use of such a refined implement? Does the spoon function as a tool or an ornament? Perhaps both. When we consider objects like this as evidence of cultural practice, we can begin to see how they might reflect, or even shape, the social hierarchies of their time. Further research into Byzantine dining practices, as well as the economics of silver production and trade, could shed more light on this humble but fascinating object. By considering its historical context, we can better understand the role it played in the lives of those who used it.