Strainer spoon 18th century

These strainer spoons were made of silver by Edward Bennet I, a colonial silversmith active in the first half of the 18th century in the British colonies of North America. These spoons aren't just functional objects; they offer us a glimpse into the rituals and social dynamics of early American life. Silverware in this era was often a symbol of status and wealth, reflecting the complex social hierarchies of colonial society, where class and race were deeply intertwined. Consider the hands that would have held these spoons: were they the hands of wealthy landowners, merchants, or perhaps enslaved servants preparing tea for their masters? These spoons remind us that even the most mundane objects can hold layers of meaning and tell stories about the lives, values, and power structures of the past.