Table Spoon 1780 - 1790

This is a silver tablespoon, made by Joseph Richardson Jr. in the 18th century. Richardson was part of a prominent family of silversmiths in colonial Philadelphia. Crafting luxury items like this spoon placed the Richardsons among a select group of artisans catering to the wealthy merchant class. Such objects reflect not just affluence, but also the complex social dynamics of the time. While artisans like Richardson benefited from the economic system, that system was deeply entangled with the forced labor of enslaved people. The refined elegance of this spoon stands in stark contrast to the brutal realities of slavery, reminding us that even the most beautiful objects can carry the weight of historical injustice. This spoon, like many artifacts from the period, asks us to consider the labor, class and social structures that underpin its creation.