Indian Oil Spoon with Spear Top

Big deep bowl at one end, spear-tipped handle at the other.

This brass oil spoon with a spear top is from Karnataka, South India, and dates to the late 19th or early 20th century. Oil spoons and ladles are generally used to pour oil into lamps, a task that was part of daily household and temple practice in India. Broad, deep bowl set at an angle on a handle whose shoulder flares into pointed ears. The slim shaft has a ringed section and ends in a long pointed tip. The finish is golden brown, smooth inside and slightly mottled outside. It is 1.25 inches wide, 0.75 deep and 6.5 high.

A generous scoop with a sharp sense of style.