A fleur-de-lis crowns the spoon. A lion rules the fork. Cherubs, griffins, and cascading florals fill everything in between — this is a salad set that refuses to be overlooked.
Ugo Bellini is a master metal worker from Florence who has been producing brass objets d'art since 1992, with works displayed at the Church of San Bartolomeo at Cintoia. This fork and spoon set from the early 1990s is thoroughly Baroque in sensibility: every surface carries symbolic ornament — the griffin faces at the base of each handle with wings extending down the sides are an easy-to-miss detail that rewards a closer look. Both pieces are stamped "Italy" on the back. At 10–10.5 inches they have real presence in hand. Brass, with normal wear and no damage.
Equally suited to a formal buffet table and a dining room wall where they can be properly admired. A striking gift for anyone with a taste for the ornate — maximalist home décor enthusiasts, collectors of Italian metalwork, or anyone who believes salad deserves theater.
Maker: Ugo Bellini, Florence, Italy — stamped "Italy"; early 1990s
Design: Baroque brass — fleur-de-lis (spoon), lion (fork), cherubs, floral motifs, and griffin faces at base of each handle
