Spoon 1698 - 1699

This silver spoon was made by Lawrence Coles, a London silversmith, sometime around the turn of the 18th century. Notice the weight of the material, how the thick gauge of silver gives the spoon its robust presence. Silver has long been associated with wealth. Yet, like all metals, it starts as a raw material, extracted from the earth, a process with significant social and environmental impact. Consider the labour involved in the production of this spoon. The silversmith would have started with an ingot, forging it into the desired shape with skillful hammering, and engraving the decorative details by hand. Each mark is a testament to Coles’s expertise and time. These details, alongside the hallmarks, add value to the piece. This spoon transcends mere functionality. It embodies status, artistry, and a complex history of material extraction and skilled labour. Understanding its creation allows us to see how closely intertwined craft, commerce, and social identity truly are.