Sugar Shell, Brilliant Pattern

Reed & Barton; W.C. Beattie; William Parkin

Caption

Reed & Barton (American, 1840–present); W.C. Beattie; William Parkin. Sugar Shell, Brilliant Pattern, ca. 1875. Silver plate, 6 1/16 x 1 1/2 in. (15.4 x 3.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Paul F. Walter, 1994.165.78.

Gallery

Not on view

Title

Sugar Shell, Brilliant Pattern

Date

ca. 1875

Medium

Silver plate

Classification

Food/Drink

Dimensions

6 1/16 x 1 1/2 in. (15.4 x 3.8 cm)

Credit Line

Gift of Paul F. Walter

Accession Number

1994.165.78

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.

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