Salt Spoon 1790 - 1806

This is a salt spoon made by Benjamin Halsted, a silversmith working in New York in the late 18th century. It is made of silver, a precious metal, which would have been sourced through mining and trade networks. The spoon’s form would have been achieved through hammering, annealing and shaping the metal, requiring a skilled hand and specialized tools. Note the engraved decoration on the handle, indicating the owner's initials. The embellishments transform a functional item into a personalized luxury object. Consider that at this time, silver was often acquired through exploitative colonial practices, and that crafting objects like this one relied on the labor of skilled artisans. The spoon's material and design speak to a wider social context of wealth, trade, and skilled craftsmanship. By examining such an everyday object, we gain insight into the economic and social dynamics of the period.