Ice Cream Slicer and 10 Ice Cream Spoons 1858 - 1870

Kidney, Cann & Johnson crafted this ice cream slicer and set of ten spoons from silver around 1865. The arrangement is immediately striking; a single, ornate slicer presiding over an orderly regiment of spoons. The eye is drawn to the contrasting shapes: the slicer's broad, engraved surface against the slender, uniform spoons. Notice the repetition of form, the spoons each mirroring the other in shape and detail. This creates a sense of rhythm, interrupted only by the unique design of the slicer, which features a pastoral scene. The portraits at the tip of each handle introduces a play of symmetry and asymmetry. These objects do more than serve their practical function; they speak to a specific cultural moment. They are artifacts of a society that valued both utility and decorative embellishment, reflecting an era where dining was elevated to an art form. As you consider these objects, think about how they embody not just form and function, but also the values of their time.