Two Tablespoons c. 1770

Curator: Well, these tablespoons by Myer Myers give me a strange sense of domesticity. Almost hauntingly so. Editor: These silver tablespoons, dating from sometime in the 18th century, offer a potent lens through which to consider colonial American craft production. Curator: It's interesting to consider how a simple object like a spoon carries so much weight, so much implied daily ritual, and so much evidence of someone's touch. Editor: Myers, a silversmith of Jewish heritage, demonstrates the intersection of trade, craft, and social identity in a burgeoning colonial economy. The spoons were undoubtedly used for consumption, perhaps even conspicuous consumption. Curator: I find myself wondering about the meals they served, the hands that held them. It's almost like holding history itself. Editor: Absolutely. And by studying these objects, we can explore the labor, materials, and the very social fabric of early America. Curator: So, from humble utensils to windows into the past... Editor: Precisely, and a testament to the profound stories objects can tell.