Accession Number
1967/2.17

Title
Spoon

Artist(s)
Tiffany & Company

Object Creation Date
1900-1967

Medium & Support
18K gold

Dimensions
5 13/16 x 1 5/16 in. (14.76 x 3.2 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Colonel and Mrs. Thomas M. Spaulding

Subject matter
Many silver luxury items in Colonial America were imported from Europe, but by the late 17th century American silversmiths began producing spoons, tankards, and tea services for domestic use and display, many of which emulated the aesthetics of British and Northern European design and ornament. The Tariff of 1842 imposed heavy taxes on imported goods to America, such as silver, which, along with a flourishing economy following the Civil War and an increase in the demand for elegant dining silverware, led to an increase in production. As the industry grew from local workshops to large factories, American silver manufacturers, such as Kirk & Sons and Tiffany & Company were established.
During this time the role of the designer became more important in silversmithing. The prestigious New York jewelry firm Tiffany & Co. originally founded in 1837 by Charles Louis Tiffany (whose son, Louis Comfort Tiffany, became renowned for his glasswork and jewelry) employed a succession of highly influential and skilled designers, and soon became well known for creating beautiful pieces, whose elegant and timeless designs continue to remain popular even today.

Physical Description
Gold spoon with thin handle that widens at the end with egg-and-dart-like motif along edges

Primary Object Classification
Decorative Arts

Primary Object Type
spoon

Collection Area
Modern and Contemporary

Rights
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Keywords
Objects We Use
gold (metal)
modern and contemporary art