Ladle

Art Historical Context

This elegant silver ladle, crafted by American silversmith John Burger between 1790 and 1800, exemplifies the refined craftsmanship of early Federal-era metalwork. Measuring nearly 14 inches in length with a gracefully proportioned bowl, the piece was likely used for serving soups or punch at formal dinners. Its substantial weight of over five ounces reflects the value placed on durable, high-quality household silver during this period. In the decades following the American Revolution, objects like this ladle served both practical and symbolic roles, signaling prosperity and cultural sophistication in the young nation’s homes. Burger’s work, preserved in the Metropolitan Museum’s American Wing, highlights the growing tradition of domestic silver production in cities like New York, where skilled artisans blended European techniques with distinctly American tastes. Donated to the museum in 1928 by Miss Annie-May Hegeman, the ladle offers visitors a tangible connection to everyday life in the late eighteenth century, when silver utensils were treasured heirlooms passed through generations.