Ceramic medicine spoon

Porcelain medicine spoon, cream glaze, 1801-1920, English(?)

Medicine spoons, such as this white example, were used to measure out doses of liquid medicines. The leaf-shaped moulded decoration at the bottom of the handle gives the spoon stability. Medicine spoons were popular during the 1800s and were generally ceramic (like this one) or pewter. Some had a half cover to prevent the medicine spilling over the sides. One of the problems with this type of spoon is that it is not marked with any scale, although later spoons are marked with a scale of teaspoon, dessertspoon and tablespoon. It is shown here with a blue and white example (A608496).