The spoon (tablespoon) appeared much earlier than the fork. Similar in shape to spoons, they began to be used to consume liquid and semi-liquid food as early as the 3rd century BC. The first objects, identical to spoons, were made of baked clay. In shape, it was a round ladle with a handle. Later, they began to be made of bone, animal horns, wood, stone, nut shells, sea shells, and fish bones.
Any domestic item that fits the curved shape of a ladle could be used as a material or foundation for crafting a tablespoon. So, no doubts, this feature speaks about our ancestors' creativity, ability to adapt. They were able to change everyday not much useful items into practical tools for their culinary needs and survival. From gourd shells to carved wood, they demonstrated remarkable innovation in using available resources to design utensils that have endured through the ages.
In Ancient Rome and Greece, spoons began to be made of silver and bronze. Interestingly, they were not table-setting items. Food from dishes was eaten with hands, and bread was used to pick up pieces of food. Spoons were, as a rule, served in the kitchen as stirrers and ladles, giving us a glimpse into the daily life of our ancestors.
In the Middle Ages, spoons began to be made of tin, brass, and copper. At the same time, aristocrats preferred to eat exclusively silver or gold spoons. The earliest mention of spoons made of precious metals dates back to 1259. In the 18th century, spoons made of aluminum were considered prestigious and valuable. This metal had just been discovered, so it was expensive then. For example, during Napoleon's reign, the most honored guests were served aluminum cutlery at the emperor's ceremonial receptions. Other guests used cutlery made of more traditional metals - silver or gold. Externally, aluminum vaguely resembled silver, but it became a lot of cheap catering in the future. It was in the 18th century that spoons acquired the shape of an ellipse and began to resemble modern and familiar models. In the same century, interest in Chinese culture and many things and products brought from this mysterious country introduced Europe to tea and the culture of tea drinking. This time can be defined as the beginning of the era of the teaspoon. And coffee spoons were needed for coffee. Thus, the use of a spoon and its shapes and materials became very diverse.
In the Baroque era, tablespoons also had longer handles. This was most likely due to the appearance of elements in clothing, such as long and wide sleeves and lush frills.
After all, almost until the 18th century, spoons were held with the whole "handful" and not with fingers, as in our time. Therefore, their handles were short, massive, and somewhat rounded.
In 1825, the German doctor E. Geithner opened a factory in Saxony and began producing cutlery from argentan (an alloy of copper with nickel and zinc). It was a beautiful, silver-like material and relatively cheap. A few years later, cutlery makers all over Europe began making argentan, which was called by different names: alfenide, cupronickel, etc. Today, cutlery made from this material is called "cupronickel."
The discovery of stainless steel at the beginning of the 20th century was a situation changer in the development of cutlery spoons. The addition of chromium reduced the risk of metal corrosion and increased its resistance and durability. This not only made spoons more practical and long-lasting but also opened up new design possibilities. Currently, spoons are made from a variety of metals and their compounds, but, as before, silver spoons remain the most beautiful, valuable, expensive, high-quality, and safe.
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