Tea spoon (one of a set of six)

c. 1797

Maker

Joseph Richardson Jr. (1752-1831)

Measurements

5-3/4 in x 1-1/8 in x 5/8 in

Materials

Silver

Credit Line

Historic Odessa Foundation, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Saunders Morris

Accession Number

1970.194

Inscription

“SM” in script is engraved into the top of the handle end.  “JR” is stamped twice into the underside of the shaft.

Provenance

The initials are those of Sarah Marshall Morris (d. 1824), who married Thomas Morris (1774-1841) of Philadelphia in 1797.  The donor is the great, great-grandson of Sarah Marshall Morris.

Comments

The teaspoons have pointed oval bowls, a long, undecorated shaft, and a handle that ends in a rounded tip that turns downward.  The set of spoons was likely made for Sarah at about the time of her marriage in 1797, although her initials remained the same before and after.

This set of spoons accompanies a set of six table spoons, also by Richardson, with the same provenance (accession no. 1979.193).  For a set of six dessert spoons with the same provenance but by Philadelphia silversmith James Howell and of slightly different historical circumstances. see accession no. 1970.195.

Bibliography

Louise C. Belden, "Sallie Morris' Silver," Antiques 100, no. 2 (August 1971):  216, fig. 3.