Sugar spoon 1786 - 1789

This is a silver sugar spoon, made by Pierre-Nicolas Sommé. The piercing of its bowl would have been done by hand, using a variety of specialized tools. This technique, like silversmithing in general, demands great skill and long training. Looking closely, you can see a filigree design in its bowl with swirling motifs that resemble foliage. The handle ends in a distinctive heart shape, a flourish that underscores the object's connection to rituals of hospitality and courtship. But there's another side to this story. Sugar was a precious commodity in the 18th century, a sign of wealth and sophistication. Its production depended on brutal forced labor in the colonies. So, while this spoon might seem like a refined object, it's also tied to wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption. Considering these materials, making process, and context, invites us to think more deeply about the cultural significance of this simple object.