Section of a spoon handle 1789

This is a section of a silver spoon handle, made by Michel Savigny, a French silversmith who was active during a tumultuous period marked by revolution and shifting social structures. At the time, silver cutlery was not merely functional, but also a potent symbol of status and belonging. The hallmarks stamped onto the silver – the crowned "P," the crescent moon, the bird, and the flower – speak to the strict regulatory systems governing the production of luxury goods in 18th-century France. These emblems, while seemingly innocuous, offer a glimpse into a world where identity, craftsmanship, and commerce were inextricably linked. Savigny occupied a unique position, catering to the elite while navigating the changing tides of revolution that would eventually dismantle the very foundations of the aristocratic system. Consider the intimate act of dining, elevated through meticulously crafted silverware. This fragment serves as a reminder of the complex interplay between personal experience and broader historical forces.