Figure-top spoon

Unknown Artist

second half 19th century

Figure-top spoon by Unknown Artist

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 ...

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