Very odd spoons

[Granmaa]

Here are three spoons, 8.8 cm long with barley twist handles, a shaped bowl and a curious figure on top. There are no markings.

I thought they might be Javanese, going purely by the figure on stem. What does everyone else think?

Miles

[lauren]

I know these!

Following is pure speculation, based on how I knew them to be acquired, and hunches about the marking. Experts, please forgive my naïveté.

Guessing made in India. Hindu design, perhaps of "cosmic dancer" Namaste, tied to Shiva and Nataraja. Spoons I'm familiar with purchased in Indonesia during Dutch Batavia Colonial Period, probably in 1930s; certainly pre-WWII.

Only differences: back of spoon bowls marked with two Ms. One M is wide, second M narrow, centered in other. Etching on figure and bowl same, but not as deeply carved. More of a dotted line or scroll than continuous strokes. Bowl edges are leaf-scalloped, but bowls draw to a point rather than rounded like yours. Stem twisted.

Big guess on maker. May be Minerals & Metals Trading Co. (MMTC) Ltd., in India. Speculate only because of two Ms marking, and the two Ms in MMTC. Plus, the company produces silver decorative items. This is totally unreliable and unfounded. Marking in India may not have been consistently practiced back then.

Amazed to see yours!

I too am very interested in any insights others may have. Thanks in advance. Appreciated.

[dragonflywink]

Fairly common souvenir items, made in Indonesia, probably 1st half 20th century. Sometimes called Yogya silver for the area where made, these depict Javanese shadow puppets used in performances based on Hindu legends.

Cheryl ;o)

[Granmaa]

Thankyou both very much for your help.
I can well believe you Cheryl when you say these are common souvenir items: the quality is atrocious. These were the result of one of my blind forays outside the world of English spoons, a world where I'm, comparatively, only short-sighted!

Miles (:D)

[lauren]

Hi to both of you!

Gotta admit, what's lacking in quality is made up with fun to look at. Guess I just like them for what they are -- unusual. Noticed similar item in post below, titled "Witch ... something."

Cheryl, I learn so much from your posts. Thank you!

[mso]

I know this is an ancient thread, but just to confirm that these spoons are definitely Indonesian -- I have a similar set from my parents (much nicer, but not as nice as the other set posted in this forum subsequently). The wayang figures are characteristic Indonesian icons, as expected of souvenir items, and they represent figures from the Hindu epics, explaining the initial confusion with an Indian origin. However, these wouldn't be considered Yogya silver, which refers to the complex repousse style.