Images(6)

Pair of Salt Spoons

Dateca. 1760-1820

OriginAmerica or England

MediumSilver

DimensionsOverall: 3 3/4"; Width of bowl: 13/16"; Thickness of bowl:1/8"

Credit LineBequest of Joseph H. and June S. Hennage

Object number2020-310,1&2

DescriptionCast silver salt spoons of the "Onslow" pattern, with trifid terminals and scallop-shell bowls.
Label TextSmall silver objects of the colonial era often present a great challenge to those looking to study them. While unmarked pieces must be interpreted on their appearance alone, those which carry the initials of their maker present other issues, since many silversmiths shared the same initials. These little spoons each carry a conjoined "MM" mark of the sort known to have been used by Myer Myers (1723-1795), one of colonial New York's top silversmiths, and the most famous Jewish-American craftsman of the period.

The issue with attributing this pair stems from the fact that the mark struck into the backs of their handles doesn't match those found on unquestionably genuine pieces by Myers. This could mean one of three things;1) fraudulent Myer Myers marks were struck into genuine antique salt spoons, 2) they were struck by a previously unrecorded Myers punch, or 3) they were made by a yet-identified craftsman who also used a conjoined "MM" mark.
MarkingsThe backs of each handle are struck twice with a conjoined "MM" in relief within a rectangle. These marks may be spurious, and roughly imitate Barquist's Mark 5.