One of a Set of Five Table Spoons 1698 - 1699

Curator: This is one of a set of five table spoons by Benjamin Watts, who was born in 1698 and died in 1727. Editor: It’s surprisingly elegant for a spoon. The curve of the bowl seems almost impossibly smooth. Curator: Right? Think about the social context of something like this in the early 18th century. Silverware wasn’t just functional; it spoke volumes about status and power. Editor: Absolutely. And we have to consider the labour involved in its crafting, the silversmith’s skill. What tools did Watts use? How long did it take to achieve this level of finish? Curator: And who owned the mines where the silver was extracted? Whose labor subsidized this kind of luxury? The spoon becomes a lens through which we can examine early capitalist structures and social hierarchies. Editor: It’s a testament to the beauty that can be born from careful manipulation of materials and also a reminder of the conditions that allowed for its existence. Curator: Precisely. Art history and material culture intertwine to give us a richer understanding. Editor: A spoon can tell so many stories.