Salt Shovel

Art Historical Context

Nestled in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Wing, *Salt Shovel* by Nehemiah Norcross (0–1800) the refined craftsmanship of early American silversmithing. Crafted from gleaming silver and measuring just 4 inches length, this delicate utensil was designed for serving salt at the dining table—a luxury item in colonial households where salt symbolized wealth and hospitality.cross, a skilled artisan likely working in New England, produced such pieces during a transformative era bridging the American Revolution and the early republic, when domestic silverware reflected emerging national pride and Eu...