Decorated bone spoon
Anglo-Saxon, early 11th century AD
Found during archaeological excavations at Westgate car park in Winchester, Hampshire in 1951, on the site of Queen Elizabeth II Court
A spoon with an elongated shallow bowl and a simply carved bird-like animal head at the junction with the handle. The tip of the handle is missing. The spoon was carved from a single bone, a cattle or horse radius. It was found in a domestic rubbish pit which suggests everyday household use, but the surface is highly polished and shows no sign of wear, so perhaps it was virtually new when lost.
The spoon is a standard late Anglo-Saxon type, but its unusual decoration marks it out as one of several from Winchester which seem to be products of the same workshop. The double acanthus leaf design seen on the upper side of the bowl, and a single acanthus on the back (not shown) are based on the high art style of the period, known as the Winchester style of art. This spoon shows us that the Winchester style was not just for the rich and powerful but was also found on everyday objects used by ordinary people.
