Six dessert spoons
18th century
Medium
Silver gilt
Dimensions
Length (each): 6 3/8 in. (16.2 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Silver
Culture
Irish, Dublin
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Anonymous Gift, by exchange, 1988
Accession Number
1988.84.1–.6
Art Historical Context
Crafted in 18th-century Dublin by silversmith Christopher Skinner, six dessert spoons exemplify the metalwork of Georgian-era Ireland. Each spoon measures 6 3/8 inches in length and is fashioned from silver gilt—a luxurious technique where a thin layer of gold is applied over silver, creating a radiant, durable finish that combined affordability with opulence. Acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art 1988 through a generous anonymous gift, they now reside in the European Sculpture andative Arts collection, highlighting Skinner's mastery within Dublin's thriving silver trade. Dublin silver w...