Spoon and fork once owned by Jose Rizal up for auction
Jose Rizal's personal flatware is currently up for grabs at the upcoming Leon Gallery auction.
Based on the gallery's website, the spoon and fork, made of German silver and dating back to the 1880's, are currently priced at P1 million.
Engraved in the utensils are emblematic initials "J.R." which stand for the national hero's name.
Rizal had a personal spoon and fork as his family was afraid of him being assassinated by poison over his controversial Noli Me Tangere, which threatened Spanish friars.
Silverware was also significant during the period because they are believed to change color in the presence of certain poisons such as arsenic.
The utensils were handed down from José Rizal to her sister Narcisa Rizal, then to her son, Dr. Leoncio Lopez-Rizal.
The Leon Gallery's auction will happen on June 13 in Makati.
Earlier in February, the first edition of Rizal's El Filibusterismo fetched P21 million at auction. Leon Gallery said that it is the most expensive book ever sold in the Philippines.
In December 2024, meanwhile, the hero's "Josephine Sleeping" sculpture sold for a record P31.2 million.