Figure-top spoon
Unknown Artist
second half 19th century
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Overall: 7 3/8 × 2 1/4 in. (18.7 × 5.7 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Silver
Culture
Dutch
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Samuel P. Avery, 1897
Accession Number
97.2.280
Art Historical Context
This exquisite **Figure-top spoon**, crafted by an unknown Dutch artist in the second half of 19th century, the artistry of European silverwork. Measuring 7 3/8 × 2 1/4 inches (18.7 × 5.7 cm), its silver construction highlights the period's mastery of metalworking techniques, such as casting and chasing, to create a functional yet sculptural object. The distinctive "figure-top" designwhere the handle culminates in a small figurative element—transforms a humble utensil into a decorative, blending everyday utility with artistic flair. In 19th-century Dutch culture, silver spoons like this were ...