Tea Spoon 1745 - 1760

Editor: So, this is a silver tea spoon, dating from about 1745 to 1760, made by Myer Myers. The reflective surface is striking. What can you tell me about it? Curator: It's crucial to examine the materials. Silver wasn't just valuable, it was tied to specific social classes and power structures. Myers was a successful silversmith. Think about where he got his silver, who was commissioning these spoons, and what their status was in society. Editor: I see, it’s not just a spoon, it reflects economic and social dynamics. So, what’s the link to consumption? Curator: These spoons were used to consume tea, which by this period was tied to the colonial trade system of goods. Tea had become so crucial for them, and what are some objects that facilitate the rituals of consumption in genteel society? How does the material reflect that? Editor: That’s a great point. It almost seems obvious, but considering the social implications of something so everyday hadn't occurred to me. The labour required to create something like this must have been intensive as well. Curator: Precisely. Also, consider what's considered decorative art and who gets to make these definitions. This teaspoon isn't hanging on a wall, but someone dedicated skilled labor and expertise in producing it. What traditional divides get blurred once we analyze these aspects? Editor: Right, seeing the spoon as part of a broader network of trade, labor, and status gives it so much more meaning than just its aesthetic qualities. Curator: Exactly. By examining materiality and the means of production, we uncover deeper stories embedded within seemingly simple objects.