Coffee spoon
mid-18th century
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Length: 4 3/4 in. (12.1 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Silver
Culture
German, Stade
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Samuel P. Avery, 1897
Accession Number
97.2.88
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative Arts, this delicate coffee spoon exemplifies the refined craftsmanship of mid-18-century German silversmith. Crafted by Johann Christian Kessler Stade—a prosperous Hanseatic town in northern Germany—the spoon measures a dainty 4 3/4 inches (12.1 cm) long and is made of gleaming silver. Donated in 1897 by Mrs. Samuel P. Avery, highlights the era's blend of functionality and artistry in everyday tableware. During the Rococo period, coffee emerged as a fashionable beverage among Europe's elite, prompting the creation o...