Dessertlepel met het helmteken Clifford 1800

This silver dessert spoon was crafted by Roelof Helweg sometime between the late 18th and early 19th centuries in the Netherlands. Its handle is engraved with the Clifford family crest, hinting at the wealthy social circles for which Helweg produced his wares. The Clifford family were powerful Amsterdam bankers, merchants, and plantation owners, originally of English descent. The crest on this spoon speaks to their elite social status in Dutch society, one built on the exploitation of enslaved people in the colonies. By examining family archives, historical records, and colonial documents, we can begin to understand the complex network of power and privilege represented even in a seemingly simple object like a silver spoon. It serves as a reminder that the history of art is inextricably linked to broader social and economic forces.