Teaspoon c. 1875

This teaspoon is part of a larger set made of silver by James Tuff and is currently held in the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Objects like this weren't just functional; they were potent symbols of wealth, taste, and social standing. Silver, in particular, was a marker of status, reflecting the economic disparities of the time. Tea ceremonies themselves were highly ritualized, performing social hierarchies and cultural values. Think about the labor involved in creating these objects, likely produced by skilled artisans whose names are now lost to history. What stories do these objects tell about access, privilege, and the human desire for beauty? Consider how they might be seen differently through the eyes of those who could never afford them. This set invites us to reflect on the complex relationship between everyday objects and the broader structures of power.