Spoon 1725 - 1750

This is a silver spoon, about seven and a half inches long, made by Jacob Hurd, a silversmith working in Boston in the first half of the 18th century. Silver, of course, is a precious metal, but in this period it was also a commodity, linked to complex patterns of trade and colonial exploitation. The spoon would have been made by heating the silver and hammering it into shape, a labor-intensive process requiring considerable skill. The silversmith would have used specialized tools to create the bowl of the spoon and the handle, and then polished the surface to a high shine. The result is a simple, elegant object that speaks to the values of the time: refinement, order, and a sense of material wealth. Though seemingly humble, this spoon represents a sophisticated level of craftsmanship. It asks us to consider the broader social and economic context in which it was made.