Interesting spoons trying to ID

Discussion in 'Metalware' started by Erik Aunapuu, Dec 31, 2021.

  1. Erik Aunapuu

    Erik Aunapuu Well-Known Member

    Hey folks!

    I got these lovely spoons from a person from Belgium who apparently got them from his grandmother in 1950s so no clue where they actually came from and when they were made. There is a mark on each one of them. Any ideas what the mark really means, what the material could be and when and who made them?
    It would be lovely to know more about them :)

    Thank you so much and Happy New Year everyone :)


    Erik

    269864004_497426628357818_6079050790637443159_n.jpg 267966594_683724242994286_5379653974382940694_n.jpg 264115756_2986902784896931_5225035942641861348_n.jpg 269810967_325314559460913_9014547216947280302_n.jpg 263323493_516988309419265_4152362362520778909_n.jpg 269808695_698601844464856_3808715039298935755_n.jpg 267979363_1886291354911284_8017137880389262018_n.jpg
     
  2. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    Those are Djokja/Yogya silver spoons, from Java, Indonesia. The figures on top are from the classic Central Javanese wayang puppet theatre.
    The silver is .800 fineness.
    Is the other mark MS? If so, it could be for Mulyo Sucipto.

    The box is original. It has a modernized Central Javanese 'batik' design, made to look like batik fabric.
     
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  3. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    Erik, just so you get an idea, that is a Wayang puppet of Arjuna on the left of the photo. This one is from East Java, but the shape is the same as Central Javanese ones.
    Apologies for the blurry pic.:sorry:

    upload_2021-12-31_15-33-3.jpeg
     
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  4. Erik Aunapuu

    Erik Aunapuu Well-Known Member

    Wow, thank you so much for this information. I highly appreciate it, honestly :)
    It took me a while to be sure, but I do think it says MS.
    I am a bit surprised they are silver, they look a bit different than any other silver item I have.
    Do you have any idea when they were made?

    I am not planning on selling them at all, but are they worth anything today? I will happily add them to my collection.
     
  5. Erik Aunapuu

    Erik Aunapuu Well-Known Member

    Wow, this is awesome! I am thinking about starting collecting items like this, they are so cool :nailbiting::dead:
    Thanks for making me a bit smarter again :joyful:
     
  6. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    The silver will look much more 'silvery' when you've polished them.:)
    They were probably fairly new when your Belgian contact was gifted them.
    It is always a pleasure, Erik, glad to be of help.:)
    Yes, Javanese items are very cool. Through them you become acquainted with a very different world, with a different yet beautiful esthetic.:happy:
     
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  7. KikoBlueEyes

    KikoBlueEyes Well-Known Member

    Are those your bits? If so, how wonderful. Each unique and interesting.
     
  8. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    Yes, they are.:happy: Some Javanese, some Balinese, and the bronze dancer on the right is from Madura, my ancestral island.
    The central standing Shiva and the seated Kubera (Hindu God of wealth) are museum replicas, the rest is pre-1940 to antique.
    My pride and joy is the little terracotta head on the left. It is East Javanese Majapahit era, 1293-ca 1500. My parents had it before me.

    Almost forgot, the silver bowl in the centre is from Palembang, Sumatra.
    They all live on top of a Chinese cabinet.:)
     
    Last edited: Dec 31, 2021
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  9. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    I posted her before, so this is a repeat appearance;): My little Majapahit lady:

    upload_2021-12-31_16-43-32.jpeg
     
  10. Erik Aunapuu

    Erik Aunapuu Well-Known Member

    My dream is to visit your 'museum' one day ;)
     
  11. KikoBlueEyes

    KikoBlueEyes Well-Known Member

    Even your replicas are awesome. I looked at each piece as you called them out in your post, and marveled at each one in its turn. The silver bowl surprised me, as I missed it the first time. The bronze dancer seems to be moving, even though I know it isn't. And the gem of this collection sitting there innocently smiling like it wasn't at a minimum 500 years old. Thanks for sharing. I am in envy of your Chinese cabinet top that gets to hold these glorious things.
     
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  12. KikoBlueEyes

    KikoBlueEyes Well-Known Member

    Me too.
     
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  13. KikoBlueEyes

    KikoBlueEyes Well-Known Member

    Grateful for a closer look. :kiss:
     
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  14. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    Thank you Kiko.:kiss: The replicas are indeed good quality.:)
    This is a sideview of the seated (enthroned) Kubera. The original dates from the tenth century, if I remember correctly.

    upload_2022-1-1_15-34-26.jpeg
    I think he is actually surfing :playful::

    upload_2022-1-1_15-29-40.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Jan 1, 2022
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