The use of spoons goes back thousands of years. The first spoons were probably shells, coconuts, animal horns or other natural materials hollowed out to form a small bowl. Metal spoons were first made in Antiquity. In the Middle Ages, spoons were often made of wood, bone or horn, but from the 16th century onwards, metal spoons became more common. Silver spoons were particularly popular among the upper classes in Europe from the 17th century onward, while steel spoons became more common from the 20th century onward. Today, spoons are available in a variety of materials, sizes and shapes to suit different culinary needs.