Dessert fork (one of twelve)
Medium
Silver
Classification
Metalwork-Silver
Culture
British, London
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Anonymous Gift, by exchange, 1988
Accession Number
1988.84.20
Art Historical Context
This elegant silver dessert fork, one a matched set of twelve, was crafted in London between 1766 and 1775 by skilled silversmiths Johnney, Thomas Wallis I and the firm T. and W. Hailing from Britain's Georgian era, it exemplifies the exquisite metalwork produced in the capital's renowned workshops, where hallmarks authenticated quality and origin. Silver flatware like this was a hallmark of refined 18th-century dining the elite, reserved for the final course of desserts—think delicate pastries and fruits savored after hearty meals. The medium of silver not only shone with luster but symboliz...
About the Artist
John Linney|Thomas Wallis I|T. and W., London ( | | ) · 1725 |1718 |1766 –1825 |1822 |1775
|entered 1758, died 1818–22|ca. 1766–1775