Once upon a time, ornamental spoons were highly coveted and hugely popular. However, with the passage of time, they ceased to remain so.
Fortunately, in recent times, some of the lost glory of these objets d'art has been restored, with a handful, perhaps, collecting souvenir spoons from across the world.
Dr Peter S C Pothan stands tall among them. Collecting rare souvenir and ornamental spoons is not just a hobby, but a search as well for this 71-year-old theological teacher.
Peter started collecting spoons when he was doing his post-graduation in Nottingham, England.
"I received an ornamental spoon as a gift on my birthday. My fascination for ornamental spoons began then. After I got married, my wife also got interested in them," he recollects. His collection now stands at 86.
These spoons are significant as they are associated with a particular place, event or person.
Peter's spoons come from across the world — the USA, Africa, Australia, UK, Singapore, Thailand, South Korea etc. Those include vintage and silver ones as well.
"I have with me wooden spoons from Africa, spoons with faces on them from
Korea, a silver spoon from Niagara with the engraving of a boat, a spoon with Garuda on it from Thailand, one with St Paul's Cathedral in London and another from Wales, which has the Irish Clover on it among others. I have arranged the spoons in separate cabinets, according to the country they hail from, in my drawing room," he says.
"I have three shelves devoted to Great Britain — one exclusively for England and the other for Wales, Ireland and Scotland," he says. That's not all, he has two shelves for spoons from India.
The incredible craftsmanship on each of these spoons is astounding. It is a niche craft — be it the engraving or the enamelling.
"Once I had to undergo a surgery. While in the hospital, I discovered one such spoon, which is now part of my collection," he laughs.
Among the really unique ones, he singles out the spoon he found in Oxford — it had an on it an Oxford professor cycling.
The souvenir spoon from Cadbury is also interesting," he explains. However, he says, this is quite an expensive hobby with each spoon costing not less than five pounds. The hardest part, he admits, is to find ornamental spoons in India.
"The Indian pieces include one with the mother of pearl engraving from Goa and one of a church, also from Goa. A student gifted me five spoons from Andamans. I also found spoons from Hyderabad of the Nizam's time in my father's box. In Bangalore, there is a shop on Commercial Street which has these
kind of spoons," he informs.
"At our house in Bangalore, we have made special cabinets to display these spoons. My daughter keeps getting me spoons and so do my friends.
Those who come home are always fascinated when they see cabinets full of spoons," he says. The spoon story apart, he is also a die-hard fan of P GWodehouse and has a collection of books by the author.
"I have a huge collection of P G Wodehouse's books, which I started when I was just 12. I have all his books including some of the latest collections printed recently in the USA. I even have the first editions," he informs.
He also has as his prized possession a personal letter written to him by Wodehouse himself. Whatever Peter's collection may be, it certainly speak volumes.
If you are pursuing a unique hobby, do write to:
metrolife@deccanherald.co.in or dhmetro@gmail.com
Fortunately, in recent times, some of the lost glory of these objets d'art has been restored, with a handful, perhaps, collecting souvenir spoons from across the world.
Dr Peter S C Pothan stands tall among them. Collecting rare souvenir and ornamental spoons is not just a hobby, but a search as well for this 71-year-old theological teacher.
Peter started collecting spoons when he was doing his post-graduation in Nottingham, England.
"I received an ornamental spoon as a gift on my birthday. My fascination for ornamental spoons began then. After I got married, my wife also got interested in them," he recollects. His collection now stands at 86.
These spoons are significant as they are associated with a particular place, event or person.
Peter's spoons come from across the world — the USA, Africa, Australia, UK, Singapore, Thailand, South Korea etc. Those include vintage and silver ones as well.
"I have with me wooden spoons from Africa, spoons with faces on them from
Korea, a silver spoon from Niagara with the engraving of a boat, a spoon with Garuda on it from Thailand, one with St Paul's Cathedral in London and another from Wales, which has the Irish Clover on it among others. I have arranged the spoons in separate cabinets, according to the country they hail from, in my drawing room," he says.
"I have three shelves devoted to Great Britain — one exclusively for England and the other for Wales, Ireland and Scotland," he says. That's not all, he has two shelves for spoons from India.
The incredible craftsmanship on each of these spoons is astounding. It is a niche craft — be it the engraving or the enamelling.
"Once I had to undergo a surgery. While in the hospital, I discovered one such spoon, which is now part of my collection," he laughs.
Among the really unique ones, he singles out the spoon he found in Oxford — it had an on it an Oxford professor cycling.
The souvenir spoon from Cadbury is also interesting," he explains. However, he says, this is quite an expensive hobby with each spoon costing not less than five pounds. The hardest part, he admits, is to find ornamental spoons in India.
"The Indian pieces include one with the mother of pearl engraving from Goa and one of a church, also from Goa. A student gifted me five spoons from Andamans. I also found spoons from Hyderabad of the Nizam's time in my father's box. In Bangalore, there is a shop on Commercial Street which has these
kind of spoons," he informs.
"At our house in Bangalore, we have made special cabinets to display these spoons. My daughter keeps getting me spoons and so do my friends.
Those who come home are always fascinated when they see cabinets full of spoons," he says. The spoon story apart, he is also a die-hard fan of P GWodehouse and has a collection of books by the author.
"I have a huge collection of P G Wodehouse's books, which I started when I was just 12. I have all his books including some of the latest collections printed recently in the USA. I even have the first editions," he informs.
He also has as his prized possession a personal letter written to him by Wodehouse himself. Whatever Peter's collection may be, it certainly speak volumes.
If you are pursuing a unique hobby, do write to:
metrolife@deccanherald.co.in or dhmetro@gmail.com