Although medieval Europeans shunned the spoon, preferring to eat soup or stew straight from the bowl, the utensil has been around since the dawn of civilisation. The ancient Greek and Roman words for spoon were derived from cochlea, meaning a spiral-shaped snail shell.
In northern Europe our ancestors tended to use carved wood instead - the Anglo-Saxon span meant a chip or splinter of wood. It wasn't until the 19th century, with the arrival of forks, proper tableware and more elaborate etiquette, that slurping soup from the bowl suddenly became the height of rudeness, making the spoon essential.
Roullier White's collection of finest grade Maxwell & Williams 18/10 stainless steel cutlery comes in this elegant, timeless 'Madison' design which blends in perfectly with both traditional and contemporary homes.
