Tea Spoon 1787 - 1790

This is a silver teaspoon, just over six inches long, crafted by Nathaniel Coleman who lived from 1765 to 1842. Coleman worked during the early years of the United States, a period of establishing national identity and economic growth. Yet this growth was built on the labor of enslaved people. Tea, which this spoon would have been used for, was one of the most popular commodities traded that relied heavily on enslaved labor. Consider, for example, the story of Phillis Wheatley, who, in the same era as Coleman, became the first African American woman to publish a book of poetry. Her words challenge the very notions of freedom that this teaspoon might evoke for a wealthy, white family at tea time. This simple spoon is more than just a utensil; it is a reflection of the complex social and economic structures of its time.