Soup ladle c. 1783

This silver soup ladle was crafted by Paul Revere, the patriot silversmith of Revolutionary War fame. Revere lived in a society deeply stratified by class, where even everyday objects like this ladle reflected one’s social standing. Consider the labor involved in producing such a piece. Silver was a precious material, and the creation of this ladle would have required skilled craftsmanship, often involving enslaved or indentured laborers. The objects Revere created were largely for the wealthy elite, who had the means to commission and collect such luxury items. Serving as a silent witness at family meals, this ladle speaks to rituals of dining and display that reinforced social hierarchies. Reflect on the ways in which this seemingly simple object carries within it complex histories of labor, class, and the forging of an American identity. It invites us to consider whose stories are told and whose are often left out of the narratives we construct about the past.