Spoon 1634

This spoon was created by Toebias Jansen the First, likely in Germany, out of solid silver. Look closely, and you'll see the many traces of the maker’s hand. The bowl was likely formed by hammering the metal over a shaped stake, then polished to a reflective gleam. The handle shows more intricate work. Notice the cast elements – the leafy scroll where the handle joins the bowl, and the decorative finial at the opposite end. These would have been made by pouring molten silver into molds. The long shaft of the handle is ornamented with chased decoration; tiny indentations created by carefully tapping punches into the surface. Consider the vast amount of labor represented by this object, from mining and refining the silver to the many hours required for its manufacture. It stands as a testament to the enduring value that societies have placed on skilled handwork, alongside the hierarchies of class that elevate some objects above others. By attending to the spoon’s making, we recognize its intimate connection to history, and to ourselves.