A tiny scoop used to clean out ears. These days you're most likely to find one in a doctor's office, and the doctor will usually call it a "cerumen spoon" or "ear curette". Doctors would probably frown on the idea of using such a tool on one's own ears.

Combination toothpicks/ear spoons were common in the 18th century, and were usually made of some sort of precious or semiprecious metal - gold, silver, bronze, or copper. Occasionally they were also made from horn or whalebone. They ranged from very plain and functional objects to highly decorative pieces of jewelry worn on a chain around the neck.

Ear spoons were also popular with Vikings (who, by the way, did not wear those silly helmets, but did rape and pillage and apparently had the very "unchristian" habit of bathing semi-regularly).


gn0sis says that ear spoons are still very common in Japan, and that his dad once got a silver one as a present for flying JAL business class. I'm jealous.