The spooner is an antique I learned about quite by accident. There was an estate sale that had advertised some glassware and china, and I came across an unusual glass piece with bleeding hearts on it. I was really fascinated with gardening that summer and was positively infatuated with bleeding hearts. In fact, I had some not-growing on my porch, along with a few other plants I was busy not-growing. (I said I was fascinated with gardening. I didn't say I was any good at it.) At any rate, the piece on the left is the bleeding heart spooner I bought that day, and the spooner at right is a reproduction piece I bought new.
After buying the bleeding heart spooner, I was eager to find out exactly what this was. The scalloped top made it unusable as a drinking glass, and it wasn't large enough to serve as a vase. Eventually I found one just like it at an antiques store online, and I learned this was called a spooner. Apparently, this was a circa 1860 or so piece that once held spoons on the table, a piece used at a time when the Victorian hostess didn't always have a spoon at every place setting. But since I'm OK on the spoon front, I use mine to hold teaspoons and other tea accoutrements.
The newer spooner holds my spoon-style tea infusers. And the rose doily they're sitting on, like the pink doily yesterday, is one I made a few years ago. I found a vintage pattern for the rose doilies and began cranking them out. Maybe I'll make one for a giveaway sometime!
I didn't know about antique spooners. They are lovely. I especially like the bleeding heart design. We had these plants growing in our backyard in Toronto when I was a little girl.
ReplyDeleteYour handmade doilies are also pretty.
Hi Angela,
ReplyDeleteI too have seen those glasses before and wondered "How in the world could you drink from them?" Isn't that funny. I will be on the lookout for them from now on- since knowing what they are!!!! Thanks for all your clever information- as always!!
Your doilie is really nice too.
Wow, thanks for the information. I never knew about spooners, but I sure want one now! :) What a great idea. Thanks, Angela!
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of these before. I often serve a buffet and would love to have something pretty like this to hold my spoons and forks. This would be perfect. Spooners. I will look for them in antiques stores, flea markets and yard sales. I will bet most people think they are just ordinary vases.
ReplyDeleteLove your spooners and the doily you made.
ReplyDeleteInteresting!!! I am glad to learn about spooners. I could definitely use one from time to time when entertaining. You always find such interesting information! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteAngela, I was catching up on your blog and I noticed this entry on spooners. Is that a "new" name for these items? I thought they were celery servers or glasses---what is the difference, do you know? I bought a celery server at a local Estate sale--it is similar to yours but taller and unadorned. Thanks for the info--Katherine
ReplyDeleteKatherine, from what (little) I've read, the celery server is a taller piece than the spooner, which makes sense considering celery stalks are so much taller than spoons.
ReplyDeleteThere I was, in line at the fruit counter, wondering what in the world this lady was going to do with all the odd glasses she held. Being a good "Quester", of course I had to ask. Then I had to ask: What's a spooner"? Ladies, check out www.questers1944.org and discover like-minded curious people with a great love of learning. And yes, this nice lady has agrred to show our chapter her wonderful collection of spponers!
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