'Big Surprise' Hidden Inside 150-Year-Old Irish Silver 'Spoon Warmer' | Antiques Roadshow

*All valuations were correct at the time of broadcast.* This lady's father was in the Royal Scots Fusiliers, and brought in this intriguing piece of Officers' Mess silver which on first glance looks like a spoon warmer. On closer inspection, the expert reveals that the item, made in 1866, actually served another purpose entirely. Hugh Scully and the experts from Antiques Roadshow take a look at some fantastic antiques and the history and stories surrounding them. This clip was filmed in Mellerstain House in 2001.

Welcome to the home of Antiques Roadshow on YouTube. Here you'll find all the best clips from Britain's most popular antiques appraisal show. From items that have been handed down the generations to those picked up in junk shops, discover their history and delight in the possibility that it could in fact be a priceless treasure.

[ROGER]

I've lived my whole uncivilized life eating food that was served with room-temperature spoons. Always held me back.

[keaton]

Man rich people are born with *warm* silver spoons in their mouth. Had no idea.

[Havel_The_Rock]

Spoon warmer, that's what my uncle used to call his lighter. By god, do I miss him

[hfmcdte]

That is a wonderful reminder of her father. It's beautiful.

[favouritemoon]

Please don't claim there's a 'big surprise in'...anything. unless there IS one!

[mulemule]

1:14 *Her flicker of disgust at discovering it's **_Irish_** silver is priceless **_("REALLY?_** I wouldn't **_KNOW!")._** Also, they should've cast her as Dolores Umbridge in "Harry Potter."* 😂

[K_a_r_l_o_s]

You wonder if this was a cheeky gift from an Irish regiment after spending time with a Scottish regiment and the amount of swearing that occured.

[ghst_f_bb_chandler]

Spoon Warmers were filled with boiling water and left on the table. All serving spoons were placed in it until needed, enabling them to remain warm before scooping into some rich dish. Food served with a cold spoon may cool down too quickly for some tastes.

[jeanharper]

To the Brits, it's a HUGE surprise that an article with a thistle on it turns out to be IRISH rather than Scottish and moreover, was originally made as a swearbox! I'm sure that had them gossiping for ages!

[mikebitting]

The big surprise is there’s no surprise!

[pamelaprestegard]

But I absolutely LOVE IT‼️Been watching Antiques Roadshow for over 30 years!! Attended once when they came to Charleston 2002(?)❤️

[jemlyn]

Well I'm surprised! I've never heard of a spoon warmer. I had to look it up. Briefly popular in the Victorian era. The nautilus shape was most common. There was also one American manufacturer. Having superfluous tableware was a status symbol.

[faithm]

Love the beautiful milk thistle flower on the lid.

[lilbullet]

It wouldn't take long for that to fill up in my house... :)

[GailBrenner-vtou]

Yes....surprise fell to the floor as would a lead balloon.

[christopherproffitt]

It's not a swear box but a silver savings bank... but it's sweet Daddy used it as a swear box and she can't see it any other way.

[markhughes]

0:51 ‘…that would soon add up…’ cheeky feller!

[learnenglishwithauntyjeanp]

Well, I thought it was a surprise because I believe the swear box was usually a separate item, mainly associated with men only dinners where the language deteriorated as the wine flowed. Why anyone would want to warm a spoon at the table also surprised me!

[williamt]

Sadly;
If that we're a swear box, I'd need a MUCH BIGGER one than that!

[NoLandMandi]

The biggest surprise to me was, they used to warm their spoons 😂
Did they have spoonwwarmers warmer for colder climates as well?