Spoon 1793 - 1812

This is a silver spoon, created by Hugh Wishart, an artist active in Scotland during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Wishart lived during a time when the British Empire was expanding, impacting trade routes and the availability of materials like silver. This spoon, a seemingly simple object, speaks volumes about the social and economic structures of its time. Silverware was a marker of status, reflecting the owner's wealth and position within society. Consider the labor that went into crafting this spoon. Was it made by Wishart himself or by workers in his employ? Think about those who mined the silver, and who would have used this spoon at their table. The spoon becomes a lens through which we can consider the distribution of wealth, and the intricacies of domestic life. The spoon is engraved with lettering, perhaps initials, which can make us think about the individual or family for whom this spoon was made. It is a poignant reminder of the lives, labor, and social hierarchies that shape our world.