Dessert fork (one of twelve)

Dessert fork (one of twelve) by John Linney|Thomas Wallis I|T. and W., London

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

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