Spoon Rack
1750–1850
Medium
White pine
Dimensions
53.4 × 41.3 × 6 cm (21 × 16 1/4 × 2 3/8 in.)
Classification
wood
Department
Arts of the Americas
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
56172
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts the Americas collection, this unassuming yet charming *Spoon Rack* from 1750–1850 exemplifies the everyday craftsmanship of early American life. Crafted from white pine—a lightweight, readily available wood abundant in colonial New England—this wall-mounted piece measures a modest 53.4 × 41.3 × 6 cm. Its simple, rectangular form with pierced slots and decorative cutouts was designed to hold and display a household's prized spoons, often made of pewter or wood, keeping them organized and visible in the kitchen or dining area. Produced during a per...