Owl & The Pussy Cat Silver Runcible Spoon, 1844

This is an excellent example of an early Victorian fiddle pattern silver runcible spoon (aka pickle or chutney spoon or spork). Made by the top quality silversmith William Eaton, this spoon remains in fabulous condition with original engraved monogram to the front terminal. 

The runcible spoon appears in two works by Edward Lear: The Owl & The Pussy Cat ("They dined on mince and slices of quince, which they ate with a runcible spoon") and Twenty-Six Nonsense Rhymes and Pictures ("The Dolomphious Duck, who caught Spotted Frogs for her dinner with a Runcible Spoon")