Spoon
ca. 1705–15
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
7 5/8 x 1 3/4 in. (19.4 x 4.4 cm)
Classification
Spoon
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Schwartz, 1977
Accession Number
1977.185
Art Historical Context
This elegant silver spoon, crafted by Boston silversmith Samuel Vernon 1705–15, exemplifies the refined craftsmanship of early colonial America. Measuring 7⅝ × 1¾ inches, it hails from the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s American Wing, a testament to the emerging decorative arts tradition in the New World. Gifted by Mr. and Mrs. Schwartz in 1977 it invites us to appreciate the everyday luxury of the period. In the early 18th century, silver objects like this spoon were prized possessions, signaling wealth and social standing among American colonists. Silversmiths drew on British and European tec...