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This oval strainer is in the form of a shallow ladle. It has perforations in the shape of flower petals in the bottom of the bowl. There are hammered floral designs on the rim of the bowl and on the four bands which extend from the strainer to rest on the teacup. The sharply-arched handle has a hammered shell, or palmate, design at the end.

Inscription: A.H.

This tea strainer was brought by Ulrik Vilhelm and Elisabeth Koren when they emigrated from Lavrik, Norway, to rural Decorah, Iowa, so that Ulrich could become pastor of the Washington Prairie Church. The A. H. that is inscribed on the strainer probably refers to Elisabeth Koren’s father Ahlert Hysing (1793-1879) of Larvik, Norway.