Unusual Dominick & Haff "Spiral" Aesthetic Sterling Spn

This 6 1/8" long, slightly over .7 T. oz., spoon is an unexpected design produced by an unexpected source. The handle is an open spiral, something akin to a square twist such as Whiting and other manufacturers produced, but apart from that it is unique in the realm of late 19th silver flatware design. The handle has an overall hammered surface, with a rough end suggesting a torn or broken natural form. Indeed, this naturalistic, i.e. Aesthetic, sensibility carries over to all aspects of the piece. The bowl has a rippled and hammered surface that suggests ripples on the surface of water. The end of the handle has a small section where it is smooth and this has "strokes" that evoke Chinese or Japanese characters. This is consistent with the attempt to imply an Asian influence in this, and similar for example to what Gorham did with its "Japanese" pattern. With their nearly flat, ovoid bowls, the form suggests an ice cream spoon, but this is large for that, so the function is somewhat uncertain. The condition is mint. Marks are the D&H emblem and the word "Sterling."