Spoon 1788 - 1791

These silver spoons were created in Albany, New York, by the firm of Van Voorhis & Schanck, active in the late 18th century. Everyday objects like spoons may seem insignificant, but they offer a unique insight into the social structures of their time. Consider the rise of a merchant class in the early American republic, and with it the emergence of new forms of domesticity. Silverware became a means for families to display their wealth and status. These spoons, machine-made and therefore more affordable than hand-crafted alternatives, speak to the democratization of luxury goods. We might wonder, too, about the silversmiths themselves, small business owners navigating a rapidly changing economy. To fully appreciate the significance of these objects, we can turn to period newspapers and business directories to uncover the stories of the people who made and used them. Art history can help us understand the complex relationship between economics, social life, and the visual world.