Does anyone know what in the heck this thing is. I found it in my cabinet with auction tag still on it.
These pieces are best described as Mexican .825 silver demitasse, mocha, coffee, tea, or iced-tea spoons/stirrers. Their long, thin handles and small round decorated ends suggest they were made for light serving and stirring, not for regular dinner-table use.
The round ends feature a Mexican pre-Columbian-style design, often described by sellers as an Aztec calendar–inspired motif. A comparable listing identifies the item type as a spoon, with Mexico as the country of origin.
When were they made?
The exact date cannot be confirmed from the photos alone. There is no clearly readable maker’s mark or date mark shown. Because of that, it is safer to call them vintage Mexican silver spoons unless documentation proves they are more than 100 years old. In the U.S. import context, an antique is generally treated as an item over 100 years old.
What does “.825 silver” mean?
The number 825 means the metal is about 82.5% silver and 17.5% other metals, usually added for strength. This is important because .825 silver is not the same as sterling silver. True sterling silver contains at least 92.5% silver.
What were they used for?
These small spoons were likely used for coffee, mocha, espresso, tea, iced tea, sugar, or small desserts like ice cream. Their long handles made them useful for tall glasses, while the decorative round ends made them attractive as souvenir or guest-serving pieces.
Why are they collectible today?
Collectors like them because they combine Mexican silverwork, decorative folk-style design, and practical tableware history. They are small, detailed, and visually distinctive, especially because of the Aztec calendar-style medallion design.
Important collector’s note: the phrase “sterling” should be used carefully. If the spoons are truly marked 825, they are silver alloy, but they are below the sterling standard. A buyer should check the marks closely, weigh the pieces, and avoid relying only on a seller’s title.
