Spoon

Art Historical Context

This elegant silver spoon, crafted by American artisan Saunders Pitman between 1770 and 1800, represents the refined metalwork of the late colonial and early federal periods. At 8 3/ inches long, the piece highlights the practical yet graceful forms favored in American households of the time. Now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s American Wing, it invites visitors to appreciate how everyday objects carried both utility and quiet beauty. Silver held particular value in 18th-century America, serving as a mark of prosperity while also functioning as a reliable medium for tableware that co...