George III sterling silver cheese scoop with bone handle, hallmarked for Birmingham 1841 and for maker Joseph Willmore
Cheese scoops began to appear in the 18th century, coinciding with the emergence of Stilton cheese. A cheese scoop is made with a short, curved blade on a long handle similar in shape to a garden trowel. The curved shape would be used to core into the centre of a crumbly semi-soft cheese like a Stilton, or to cut a piece from a wax-covered cheese such as Edam or Gouda without having to remove the wax. Stilton is traditionally made in a round wheel with a firm crust or coat. A cheese scoop allows you to remove the cheese from the centre of the wheel with ease, without the need to cut up the wheel. Cheese scoops are still a useful and elegant dining accessory, especially at Christmas time when Stilton is often served at the end of the traditional dinner along side a glass of port.
Size: ½ h x 8 ½ w x 1 ½ d in
C21024
