spoon
Classification
cutlery
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Thomas S. Tibbs
Accession Number
1959-181-1
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This elegant spoon, crafted by American maker Frederick J. Posey during his active years (1820–40), dates to the early 19th century1820–42) and exemplifies the fine cutlery traditions of the young American republic. Posey, though little-documented today, contributed to the burgeoning field of domestic metalwork amid a period of national expansion and neoclassical influences. Such utensils were essential household items, often symbolizing status and hospitality in Federal-era homes, where silversmiths drew inspiration from European designs while adapting to local tastes and materials. As part ...