Spoon
1750–70
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
L. 4 3/4 in. (12.1 cm)
Classification
Spoon
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Alphonso T. Clearwater, 1933
Accession Number
33.120.409
Art Historical Context
This elegant silver spoon, crafted by silversmith Benjamin Brenton between 1750 and 1770, offers a glimpse into colonial domestic life. Measuring just 4¾ inches in length, the piece exemplifies the refined yet practical tableware favored in mid-eighteenth-century households. Silver’s enduring value and luster made it a popular choice for such objects, signaling both prosperity and a desire for lasting quality in everyday use. Brenton worked during a period when American silversmiths blended European traditions with local tastes, creating functional items that doubled as subtle displays of sta...