Spoon (Sugar Shell), Russian Pattern
Caption
Reed & Barton American, 1840–present. Spoon (Sugar Shell), Russian Pattern, Patented 1883. Silver plate, 6 1/4 x 1 1/2 x 1 1/8 in. (15.9 x 3.8 x 2.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Purchased with funds given by Joseph V. Garry, 1989.75.2. Creative Commons-BY
Maker
Title
Spoon (Sugar Shell), Russian Pattern
Date
Patented 1883
Geography
Place made: Taunton, Massachusetts, United States
Medium
Silver plate
Classification
Dimensions
6 1/4 x 1 1/2 x 1 1/8 in. (15.9 x 3.8 x 2.9 cm)
Signatures
no signature
Inscriptions
On reverse, scripted initials: "H.G."
Markings
Stamped on back: "REED & BARTON 9 / PAT SEPT 25.1883"
Credit Line
Purchased with funds given by Joseph V. Garry
Accession Number
1989.75.2
Rights
Creative Commons-BY
You may download and use Brooklyn Museum images of this three-dimensional work in accordance with a Creative Commons license. Fair use, as understood under the United States Copyright Act, may also apply. Please include caption information from this page and credit the Brooklyn Museum. If you need a high resolution file, please fill out our online application form (charges apply). For further information about copyright, we recommend resources at the United States Library of Congress, Cornell University, Copyright and Cultural Institutions: Guidelines for U.S. Libraries, Archives, and Museums, and Copyright Watch. For more information about the Museum's rights project, including how rights types are assigned, please see our blog posts on copyright. If you have any information regarding this work and rights to it, please contact copyright@brooklynmuseum.org.
Frequent Art Questions
What is the purpose of these scalloped spoons?
These are sugar spoons! They were made by Reed & Barton, a prominent American silver maker. During the 19th century, new technologies made it possible for flatware to be mass produced and accessible to the emerging middle class. This led to the rise of cutlery forms for very specific foods, such as sugar spoons, iced tea spoons, seafood forks, etc. Both of these spoons are silver plated, which was more affordable than solid silver flatware.
Have information?
Have information about an artwork? Contact us at