Four spoons 1727 - 1728

These four silver spoons were crafted by Paul Hanet, sometime before his death in 1733. What strikes one immediately is the lustrous sheen of the metal, each spoon reflecting light in its own unique way, depending on its curvature and position. Notice how the simplicity of the spoons, the stark geometry of their arrangement, leads one to appreciate the subtle variations in form and finish. It's as if Hanet is presenting us with a study in seriality. The spoons, while functional objects, invite us to consider how meaning can be found in repetition with slight variation. Perhaps these spoons are not merely utensils, but reflections on the nature of identity and difference, and the cultural codes embedded in our everyday objects. They become symbols, and this transformation challenges the fixed meaning we assign to utilitarian items.