Mar 13, 2021 21:00:00

What is the meaning of the skull and crossbones spoon manufactured in the early modern period?

In 1904, a collector named JT Mickleswaite

brought to the Society of Antiquaries of London a seemingly eerie silver spoon with a 'skull picture' engraved on the buttock. Atlas Obscura, who summarizes the various histories and wonders of the world, explains the anecdote of this spoon unraveled by experts.

The Macabre Mystery of a British Family's Skull-Topped Spoons --Gastro Obscura
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/yorkshire-death-spoons

One of the handles of the spoon brought by Mr. Mikuruswait was engraved with the words 'LIVE TO DIE' and the other was engraved with the words 'DIE TO LIVE'. Mickleswaite thought the spoon was 'not suitable for regular meals' and speculated that it might have been a funeral gift.

The 'silver spoon' had an important meaning in pre-modern Western society. In an era when the value of silver was scarce, people regarded silverware as synonymous with wealth and status, especially the silver spoon representing 'inherited wealth' and having a silver spoon 'of a wealthy family'. I was born. '

Decades after Mickleswaite brought in a silver spoon, silver spoon researcher David Constable examined Mickleswaite's spoons to determine the year and region of creation from the characteristics of silver. I figured it out and found that the spoon belonged to the venerable British family 'Strickland Family'. This spoon was given as a baptismal gift by Frances Strickland, the child's grandmother, when the child was born to

William Strickland, the head of the Strickland family in the 16th century. Mr. Strick concludes.

'It's no wonder that the skull paintings are associated with funerals,' Constable said in his book. It may seem strange to give a newborn a silver spoon with a skull engraved on it, but it was not uncommon to give a newborn baby a focus on 'death' at baptisms and weddings during this period.

For example, a wedding painting in 1560 depicts a newlywed who puts his hand on the skull right next to the corpse. 'At that time, it was difficult to live long and death was always familiar to people,' said Lauren Marshall, director of the historic guild hall Merchant Adventures Hall. 'In this era, everyone was afraid of God, went to church, and lived a pious life with the idea that when he died, he would be judged by God. Also, the skull is always by his side. That meant that 'death is always imminent,' with the message of living the best we can, 'continues Marshall.

by Wikimedia Commons

In Europe, there is a saying, 'born with a silver spoon in your mouth,' which means that you were born into a wealthy family without any inconvenience. 'I think my grandmother gave her a silver spoon with various meanings, hoping for the happiness of her newborn child,' said Constable.