Where did the term Monkey Spoon originate?
That is a good question, and no one knows for sure. Several hypotheses have been made and you are free to accept the one that suits you. 1. Since the monkey spoons all have a hook on the stem and they hang by that hook, it would “look like a monkey hanging by its tail” (my favorite). 2. Most monkey spoons have a small figural emblem on the high part of the curve. I haven’t seen any that look like a monkey (Some later reproductions supposedly had a monkey as a word play on the name), but there is one style that is very hard to figure out. Some people see a “monkey” in this figure. 3. When people drink too much they often act strangely. In Dutch the term “zuiging the monkey” is a reference to drunkeness. Take your choice. There is no “wrong” answer.
