Pair of Salt Spoons 1805 - 1815

These silver salt spoons were crafted by John Samuel Krause in the United States in the late 18th or early 19th century, a period defined by nascent nation-building, economic transformation, and the solidification of social hierarchies. The spoons, with their delicate shell-shaped bowls and engraved handles, reflect both refined taste and the burgeoning silversmithing trade in early America. Salt, then a valuable commodity, was a staple on dining tables and in food preservation. These spoons would have signified the wealth and status of the household that owned them. Krause's spoons embody the material culture of a society grappling with new forms of commerce, consumption and class distinction. To understand these objects fully, we must delve into probate records, merchant inventories, and craft guilds of the time. Such research will help us better appreciate the role of artisans like Krause in shaping the material world and social norms of the young nation.