Spoon
1775–1800
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
L. 8 1/2 in. (21.6 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
33.120.435
Art Historical Context
This elegant silver spoon, crafted by American silversmith John Letelier Sr. between 1775 and 1800, exemplifies the refined craftsmanship of early American decorative arts. Measuring 8½ inches in length, it hails from a period of burgeoning national identity, just after the Revolutionary War, when skilled artisans like Letelier—active in New York—produced functional yet luxurious tableware for affluent households. Silver, a prized medium, symbolized wealth and sophistication, often passed down through generations as family heirlooms. Letelier's work reflects the transition from colonial to Fe...