Spoon 1721 - 1722

This silver spoon was crafted by Benjamin Watts sometime before his death in 1727. A humble object, yes, but one pregnant with cultural meaning. The spoon, a symbol of sustenance and domesticity, speaks to the primal act of feeding, of nurturing. Consider how the ‘feeding motif’ recurs throughout art history, from depictions of Madonna Lactans, the nursing Virgin Mary, to images of peasants sharing meals. The shape of the spoon itself, cradling and curved, echoes the nurturing womb. This form reappears across cultures, from ancient ritual vessels to modern soup kitchens, always hinting at life's basic needs and humanity's shared responsibility for care. Is it any wonder that the act of sharing food, symbolized by this very spoon, evokes feelings of comfort, security, and belonging? The spoon’s cyclical journey reflects our enduring need for nourishment, physical and spiritual, constantly resurfacing and evolving, connecting us to the past while nourishing our present.