Sugar spoon 1775 - 1799

This silver sugar spoon was created by Jan Pereboom in the 18th century. Its handle culminates in the figure of a triumphant boy holding what appear to be two flower garlands. The boy- or putto, as we would call it in Italian- embodies the spirit of joy and abundance, a motif deeply rooted in classical antiquity and reborn during the Renaissance. The putto figure, seen throughout art history, from ancient Roman sarcophagi to Renaissance paintings, often symbolizes love, innocence, and the eternal cycle of life. This motif, which appears throughout history and across different media, retains its essential joyous quality. Consider how these garland-bearing figures evolved from symbols of pagan festivity to Christian allegories of heavenly love. It is a non-linear progression. The persistence of these motifs reveals our enduring desire to capture and express fundamental aspects of the human experience.