Spoon 1770 - 1800

This is a silver spoon made by Ebenezer Moulton in the late 18th or early 19th century in the United States. In a society still defining itself after the Revolution, items like this spoon were not merely functional; they were potent symbols of status and aspiration. Silversmiths like Moulton catered to a burgeoning middle class eager to display its newfound wealth and taste. The decorative engravings on the handle are not just embellishments; they're visual cues signaling refinement and adherence to social norms. The spoon's existence speaks volumes about the economic structures of early America, where skilled artisans found a market for luxury goods among those seeking to climb the social ladder. To fully understand this object, we need to look at probate records, account books, and other documents that shed light on the lives of both the maker and the likely owner. Art history reveals itself as social history.