HIST 223 Medieval Europe: History Illuminated: 2015-11-08

The spoon is one of the oldest of all eating utensils. From the beginning men have used rocks and carved pieces of bone or wood to scoop food and liquids. At this time forks were mostly only used in Italy and were commonly considered rude, while knives were generally expected to be brought to the table by guests and were not generally provided by the host. During the middle ages the spoon was the most important and widely used of all eating utensils. During the middle ages most commoners ate with spoons carved out of wood, while nobles ate with spoons made of bronze or silver.

The Golden Anointing Spoon

The spoon became not only an eating utensil but a symbol of status. The fancier and higher quality a noble's spoon was became a subtle way of showing off his wealth and power. The oldest known spoon from England is the golden Anointing Spoon of King Edward I. This spoon is from around 1259 and currently resides in the British Crown Jewels, where it is the oldest artifact in the collection. This special golden spoon was not used to eat, but to anoint the Sovereign with holy oil during ceremonies.

The British Crown Jewels

Sources:

http://www.royal.gov.uk/the%20royal%20collection%20and%20other%20collections/thecrownjewels/overview.aspx

http://www.eatingutensils.net/history-of-cutlery/spoon-history/

http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2013/10/history-spoons-forks-knives/

Saltcellars (or salt cellars) were popular on dining tables during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Since salt was a rare commodity from the Middle Ages to the 16th century, saltcellars exemplified wealth. Made with metal or glass, they made the centrepieces of Medieval and Renaissance dining tables. A treatise from 1466 on table manners explains how one is to use this article of tableware:

"First uncover your salt. Then take your brode Knyfe in your right hande, and with the pynt therof take up one Trencher, and laye it on your Napkyn's ende in your lefte hande. Then with your brode Knyfe take a little Salt, and plane it on your Trencher, tyll it be even. Then with your brode Knyfe cut your Salt quadrant."

the gold saltcellar is located at the centre of the table in this Medieval feast illustration

Saltcellars were made of different shapes and sizes. Some of them are quite elaborate! The most famous one is the figural type by Italian sculptor Benvenuto Cellini. His saltcellar was made for King François 1 in 1543 and is currently located at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. Made of gold, ebony, and enamel, the salt cellar is composed of allegorical Earth and Sea figures. The female is the goddess of Earth, while the male is Neptune, god of the Seas. Below them are carved personifications of the time of the days and the four winds. In addition carved horses and sea creatures surround the artwork. The temple is for pepper, while Neptune's boat carries salt.