Spoon 1701 - 1702

"Spoon" is a silver teaspoon, crafted by Benjamin Watts between 1701-1702. The piece is an example of early 18th-century English silverware, featuring a simple, elegant design. The inscription on the handle, "TEA," indicates its intended use for drinking tea, a beverage becoming increasingly popular at the time. This spoon, now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, reflects the evolving tastes and rituals associated with tea consumption in early modern England.