"Pot Spoon, Antwerp 1766, Petrus Hoffinger, Sterling Silver, “brijlepel”"
Very large sterling silver pot spoon from the Louis XV period made by the famous master goldsmith Petrus Hoffinger (1732-1772) in Antwerp. These large serving spoons were traditionally found in the collections of major abbeys ,monasteries and hospitals . They were intended to serve stews with a certain speed to monks, nuns or the sick thanks to their large size . Petrus Hoffinger was an important master silversmith because when he died prematurely in 1772, there were no fewer than 13 employees in his workshop, which was taken over by his brother Jean-Baptiste. This one will emigrate later towards Amsterdam to exercise his trade of goldsmith there. It weighs 300 grams. 
Le Magazine de PROANTIC
TRÉSORS Magazine
Rivista Artiquariato