They are also lightweight and offer great precision when scooping and stirring food, as well as measuring smaller quantities. Shovels are usually made from metal, such as steel or aluminum, although some are made from plastic or wood.

It is typically composed of a bowl-shaped cavity with a handle, and is used for eating, stirring, and serving food. Scissor action sugar nips superseded tongs at the beginning of George I’s reign (circa 1715) and were in turn superseded by tongs in a different form in the 1770’s. They reappeared, usually in novelty form during the mid–19thCentury.Mustard spoons are classed as small items, and were hallmarked in a different manner to larger items during the late 18th and early 19th Centuries - seeteaspoonsection below for an explanation of the methods employed. Marked twice; lion passant and makers mark. More exact dating is reflected in the design i.e. cast examples earlier, fancy bright-cut later and simple bright-cut (e.g. feather edge) somewhere in the middle! Sugar tong prior to 1790 are rarely marked with a date letter but can be given an approximate according to the following rules:- Caddy spoons are used for scooping a measure of tea from caddy to pot. They have been made from the 1750’s and exist both in standard pattern form and as decorative or novelty pieces. Beware offorgeries. MOST COLLECTABLE:Early examples (esp. Rococo style), Irish hook-ends, rare marks & unusual patterns.

They also require a bit more effort to use, as they require more wrist movement and gripping than a shovel. There are several names given to this elegant, long handled (usually in the region of 12"+) silver spoon; basting, serving stuffing, gravy or hash. The lasttitle is usually for the extra large bowled examples produced in the mid-18thCentury. They have been manufactured from the late 17thCentury onwards with the first examples being the Canon handled type, and ever since they have followed the form of the standard patterns. sugar nips are usually only part marked on both finger rings with the lion passant and maker's mark. They can however be accurately dated by their form. Bowl form developed from plain with rattail through plain to shell-shaped. Arms and finger grips developed from plain to ornate.

Mustard Spoon

While the handles of a shovel and a spoon are typically constructed from different materials, they are both designed to provide a comfortable grip and make it easier to use the tool. Condiment spoons have been produced since the late 17th Century and were multi-purpose in use. The earliest types were in the Trefid Pattern with oval bowls. Distinctive salt spoons were produced from the mid-18th Century and can be classified into two main types; ladles and shovels. Ladles are distinguished by their deep round or oval bowls (see above photo), whereas shovels have flat oblong bowls with sides either wholly or partly along two edges. The earliest form was the shovel, which was produced throughout the 18thCentury. Salt ladles were first made during the rococo period, were cast, and either highly decorative or in the whiplash form popular during the 1750’s. Throughout the 19thCentury they generally have a similar evolution to the mustard spoon, conforming to canteens and becoming smaller in the 20thCentury.

It is a versatile tool that can also be used for removing snow, spreading mulch, or even for scooping up pet food. Spoons, on the other hand, have a much smaller bowl-shaped cavity and a handle that is designed for indoor tasks such as eating or cooking. Spoons can also be used for scooping and moving snow, but are not as effective as a shovel for removing large amounts of snow. For instance, a shovel can be used to dig holes or scoop soil, while a spoon can be used to stir a pot of boiling soup or scoop out food from a container. Butter spades tend to be tea to dessert spoon sized, but the earlier butter knives increased in length to table spoon sized, before being reduced by the end of the 19thCentury to teaspoon size.The handle of a shovel is usually made of hardwood or metal, while the handle of a spoon is usually made of plastic or metal. Some shovels even have special features, such as a serrated edge to help with cutting through tough soil or a long handle to help with reaching into deep holes. However, upon closer inspection, there are some similarities between the two tools that are worth exploring. They are a versatile and durable tool that helps make any task easier and more efficient. What is a Spoon?