Caddy spoon
1827–28
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Length: 2 3/4 in. (7 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Silver
Culture
British, Birmingham
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Samuel P. Avery, 1897
Accession Number
97.2.179
Art Historical Context
This delicate silver caddy spoon, around 1827–28 in Birmingham, England, by the probable maker J.C., exemplifies the exquisite metalwork of Britain's Industrial Revolution era. Measuring just 2¾ inches (7 cm) in length, it was designed for a precise purpose: scooping loose tea leaves from a locked tea caddy, a luxurious household item symbolizing status amid Britain's booming tea culture. Birmingham, a hub of silversmithing innovation, produced such finely wrought objects using advanced techniques like stamping and chasing, making high-quality silver accessible beyond elite workshops. As a pi...