Set of Three Dessert Spoons c. 1760

Editor: Here we have a set of three dessert spoons by Myer Myers. They feel quite intimate, somehow. I wonder, what can these spoons tell us about the society in which they were made? Curator: These spoons offer a glimpse into the material culture of the colonial elite. Myers was a prominent silversmith in New York, catering to wealthy merchants and families. The presence of monograms suggests a personalized commission, reflecting status and identity. Editor: So, the spoons weren't just utilitarian objects? Curator: Not at all. Silverware, like paintings or furniture, served as a display of wealth and refinement. Consider the social rituals surrounding dining and entertaining during this period. How might these spoons have been used to reinforce social hierarchies? Editor: I see. They are symbols of a particular class and its values. I'll definitely think about that when I look at other decorative arts now.