Coffee spoon (one of a pair) 1738 - 1750

This is a silver coffee spoon, one of a pair, crafted by Abraham Warnberger III, who lived from 1670 to 1753. While the date of this specific spoon is unknown, it evokes the era of burgeoning global trade and shifting social rituals. This spoon is more than a simple utensil; it’s a relic of a time when the ritual of coffee drinking was transforming social habits and economies. The rise in popularity of coffee in Europe was directly tied to colonial expansion and the exploitation of labor in coffee-producing regions. As you look at the delicate floral patterns adorning its handle, consider that its beauty belies the complex and often brutal history of its time. The act of holding this spoon, imagining it stirring a cup of coffee, is to touch the past. It embodies a history shaped by the intersection of commerce, colonialism, and culture, connecting us to a world of privilege and disparity.