Folding Spoon From Traveling Cutlery Set
ca. 1700–50
Classification
cutlery
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
The Robert L. Metzenberg Collection, gift of Eleanor L. Metzenberg
Accession Number
1985-103-259
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This folding spoon, dating from circa 1700 to 1750, comes from a traveling cutlery set created by an unknown artist. It exemplifies the portable dining tools common in the early 18th century, designed for convenience during journeys. The folding mechanism allowed the spoon to collapse into a smaller size, making it easy to carry in a pocket or travel case. As part of a complete set, it would have been used alongside other utensils, highlighting how personal cutlery was valued for practicality in an era when travel was becoming more frequent. Donated to the Smithsonian American Art Museum through the Robert L. Metzenberg Collection by Eleanor L. Metzenberg, this piece of cutlery offers visitors a tangible connection to the daily lives and material culture of the past. Though the specific medium remains unknown, its form speaks to the ingenuity of period craftsmanship.
About the Artist
Unknown ( ) · –