Silver strainers, cross pattern, sun symbol

European Museums, The British Museum

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Silver strainer-spoon with straining holes in the form of a cross

Silver strainers

Very small round-bowled silver strainers are a familiar late-Roman type, but their precise use at table is not known. One of these is displayed here; other examples from the Thetford treasure are displayed on the other side of the case.

Another much larger utensil is a combined strainer-funnel. This is very unusual. It presumably had a specialized use, perhaps connected with straining impurities from wine. Wine could have been served hot or cold, and may have contained herbs and spices to flavor it, which needed to be strained out before drinking.

The example with the short handle and straining holes in the form of a cross is also very unusual. It is a strainer-spoon, similar to the gilded examples with a head of Oceanus also displayed (far left).

P&E P. 1994 4-8 113, 141-2

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Supplementary images:

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Silver strainer-spoon with straining holes in the form of a cross

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Source:  London, United Kingdom