Tea Spoon 1700 - 1800

This is a silver teaspoon, crafted by W. Terry, sometime between 1735 and 1835. At just over 5 inches, the spoon has a lustrous sheen which invites a close look at its form and proportions. The overall structure follows a clear logic: a rounded bowl flows into a slender stem, which broadens again to a flattened handle, engraved with delicate initials. This progression from curve to line, and back to a flattened plane creates a balanced rhythm. It leads the eye across its entire length. The spoon embodies the era's aesthetic, revealing an appreciation for symmetry and controlled ornamentation. But more than mere utility, the careful shaping and monogram transform the teaspoon into a statement of identity. A simple object becomes a signifier of social status. This spoon does not merely stir tea, it stirs ideas about personal expression and the codification of taste within a social structure.