Indian Oil Spoon for Puja

A little ladle lying on its side, with a curled handle like a question mark.

This brass oil spoon for puja is from India, and dates to the 20th century. In Hindu worship, small metal spoons are commonly used to pour oil, water or ghee as offerings and to tend lamps during household ceremonies. A shallow round bowl joins a long, slender handle with ribbed segments, ending in a small upturned curl. The surface is smooth and mellow gold-brown with soft darker spots. The bowl is small, neat and slightly worn at the lip.

Delicate enough to make a spoonful feel like a ceremony.