What was the purpose of the antique spooner?

Answer 1

I have a spooner from the early 1900s or before, which holds a delightful collection of silver spoons. Most of the spoons were given to my grandmother individually by friends often returning from trips ... engraved with depictions of nearby rural towns, or far-away places like the New York Public Library or Chicago Art Institute. But sometimes the ornate spoons are engraved instead with dates, or names, or "Mother." I was told as a child that in earlier days, the spooner was kept on the table, making spoons available as needed at the table. An older visitor to my home confirmed to me that that had been the use for the spooner in her parents' home as well.