posted 03-25-2003 12:14 PM            

Hello there,

What is it? I purchased this sterling silver piece in Durgin's "NEW QUEEN" pattern because I do not know what it is?.. I could use any help you can give.. It is 5 1/4" long.

Thanks for the help.

Respectfully,

Marc Cutcher

posted 03-25-2003 04:02 PM            

Historically a tastevin use goes back a few hundred years. It was the cellar masters in Burgundy in France who developed this cup to sample wine while down in the cellar. It was a time when candles or torches were the light source. These cups often have angular nooks and crannies and/or the bottom center is raised slightly. The tastevin were made of silver and the design of nooks was to catch and reflect the poor light thereby making it easier to check the color and clarity of the wine.

Today it is a nod to tradition when a sommelier wears and uses this cup.

TASTEVIN

posted 03-26-2003 06:54 PM            

Being French I am all too happy to take credit for inventing the wine taster, but we might as well take credit for inventing wine (we didn't but like the add says we just make it better). A wine taster in France is a go�te-vin, taste-vin or tasse � vin. They are used interchangeably depending on the region. Really they are just a form that is a continuation of wine cups from antiquity. In the 14th or 15th century you would have used a cup for wine (in wine drinking countries) and while it may have been a wine tasting cup if you were a merchant they were also domentic ware. This can be seen in the form found in Bordeaux which has no handle and little decoration and has not changed in form for at least 500 years. In Normandy where flat thumb pieces are found they are called wine cups and were actually used to drink wine from well into the 18th century. Of course wine tasters became a business item made from silver for utilitarian reasons not as a matter of luxury. Wine tasters are rare in Burgundy and I would guess the most common source would be the Loire Valley or Paris. While it may be romantic to think of a producer in his cave, I bet as many or more were used by merchants. They are found in some countries that don't really produce wine. England had them as early as the 15th century. Over the years certain designs were used some best for white wine some for red, of course many have a mixture of forms so they work well for both. They work as well today whatever the light source. I believe they are not as often used because they don't concentrate the oder as well as some glasses, also they are hard to swirl, perhaps the price doesn't help either.

Maurice

posted 03-26-2003 11:11 PM            

What else could this thing be? The simple explanation may be that it is a wine-taster made for the 'gift market', not meant ever to be actually used. But that still per-supposes that this shape (i.e. with the long handle) was at one time made as a working type.

quote:

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WINE TASTER Spoon, English Silver
A very fine & Rare solid Silver Antique Wine Tasting SPOON, the bowl embossed with a country figural scene. Finial is in the shape of a farmer holding a plough bar. Made in London in 1898 by Maurice Freeman & hallmarked on inside of Bowl. Weight: 0.89oz./26gr. Length: 4.25in./11cm.[/i]

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posted 03-27-2003 01:47 AM            

Recently exchanged comments with a charming British silver dealer who had misidentified a Jensen open salt as a tea caddy spoon. He was amused to discover its true use because he'd seen several sold as tea caddy spoons. I guess everyone has different perceptions, I've picked up many an item and guessed at its purpose, only to discover the completely different (and obvious!) true use.

posted 03-27-2003 03:36 PM            

• A monkey or Dutch cream spoon (click here)