{"product_id":"inari-sami-lapland-finland-finely-carved-reindeer-antler-spoon","title":"SOLD Inari Sámi (Lapland, FInland) Finely Carved Reindeer Antler Spoon","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan data-subtree=\"aimfl,mfl\"\u003eThis \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-subtree=\"aimfl,mfl\"\u003espoon, carved from reindeer antler, is \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-subtree=\"aimfl,mfl\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"rQesXe MPyX\"\u003eSámi, and specifically Inari--the indigenous Sámi group native to the region surrounding Lake Inari in Finnish Lapland. R\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-subtree=\"aimfl,mfl\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"rQesXe MPyX\"\u003eesearching and trying to date this one (these continue to be made) I discovered what I find quite a fascinating history: the designs of early carved Sami spoons (worn from the belt, made for everyday use) were inspired by metal spoons they encountered through trade with neighboring cultures; over time, they, in turn, would take their carved reindeer antler spoons to silversmiths in Southern Norway and Northern Sweden to be copied in silver, such that these spoon came to embody a cyclical relationship of cross-cultural, and cross-material design influence and exchange. Which of course is true of many things, but here is crystallized--and using an image search for this spoon one turns up lots of very closely related silver spoons! (I've included a couple of examples of 19th c. silver caddy spoons that I think make the point.) Anyway, I am still not entirely certain the age of this one (my guess is early 20th century), quite finely carved and incised, and with the bowl of the spoon showing the porous \"spongy\" texture of the center of the antler. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd|||[]--\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"XSq4R KI3fJ\" data-sfc-cp=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"ep\" data-epip=\"\" data-hveid=\"CAIIAAgACBMQAA\" data-complete=\"true\"\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e6 1\/4\" l x 1 15\/16\" w, beautiful condition. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"critical EYE Finds","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67835704475902,"sku":null,"price":100.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0015\/5022\/1382\/files\/IMG_9074_f0b787a8-1d68-483c-a345-6673313d29e1.jpg?v=1791845037","url":"https:\/\/www.criticaleyefinds.com\/products\/inari-sami-lapland-finland-finely-carved-reindeer-antler-spoon","provider":"critical EYE Finds","version":"1.0","type":"link"}