Tea Spoon 1810 - 1820

This is a teaspoon by William Moulton IV, a silversmith active in Massachusetts during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. At the time this spoon was crafted, tea was more than just a beverage; it was a ritual, a marker of social standing, and deeply entwined with global trade networks fueled by colonialism and the exploitation of labor. The elegance of this spoon speaks to the gentility of tea culture, yet it's essential to remember the painful histories of sugar plantations and the tea trade which were connected to slavery and the suppression of indigenous populations. Consider how an object like this reflects the intertwined nature of refinement and exploitation. The spoon itself is a personal object, inviting us to reflect on our own relationship to luxury and consumption.