Ladle 1788 - 1820

This ladle was created by Richard Lee in the 18th or early 19th century, from wood and pewter. The pewter bowl shows evidence of having been cast, likely in a sand mold, before being lathed to a smooth finish on its interior. Notice the handle, which is made of wood, and how the lathe work here is more decorative, almost architectural. The handle is attached to the pewter neck, which is fastened to the bowl itself. Lee was a silversmith by trade, so it's no surprise that this utilitarian object shares some of the features we might associate with luxury objects. But the ladle also speaks to the more workaday aspects of colonial life. Its relatively humble materials and practical design reflect the lives of ordinary people, and remind us that even everyday objects can be sources of great aesthetic interest. By attending to the ways things are made, and the social context of their making, we can appreciate the rich significance of craft.