Antique Round Braided Silk Tabletop Mat - Two of Two wooden spoon with hooked handle Signed with what appears to

Signed with what appears to be a "Ia" at top left

it seems possible that they were chess pieces—if so

and might guess it was used for plaster

Still really looks great

though occasionally surprisingly poetic

Antique Round Braided Silk Tabletop Mat - Two of Two wooden spoon with hooked handle Signed with what appears toI've become such a fan of these old braided mats, and look at a lot of them before landing on ones I really like. This and one other I am listing I found together and assume were made by the same person, who I think had a very good eye for color and pattern. Good on the table under the coffee pot or tea pot or dishes or candlesticks or whatever. 13 1 2" in diameter and in good antique condition on both side, definitely used and a bit faded, but lovely.