the frugality, or possibly better, the ingenuity of the colonial silversmith and his patron is exemplified in these objects, compined forks and spoons, called sucket forks. the word sucket is derived from succade which referred in the 15th century to fruit preserved in sugar, either candied or in syrup. The term was also used in describing vegetables which had been similarly treated.
The bowls of this very large ladle and skimmer are made of brass and are approximately 6 inches in diameter. The handles are 22 inches long. Probably made by a crafsman in central Pensylvania in the nineteenth century. Included in the picture is a long cooking fork.
Fish servers frequently have the shape of a fish, but the silversmith who made this one seems to have been imaginative and created a different form. This one shows a number of the techniques of the silversmith such as piercing, engraving and embossing. The handle of ivory is also a very attracitve feature.
A most unusual example of a folding pocket spoon made by Caesar Ghiselin, Philadelphia, 1670 - 17334. The trifid arrangement of initials can be faintly seen on the top of th handle near the hinge. they are proably the initials of the owners. The alrge initials could be those of a later owner. It is possible that the rat tail form on this spoon, as on some others, was filed instead of swaged. Courtesy Philadelphia Museum of Art
Spoon made by John Vogler, silversmith working in Old Salem, North Carolina, in the first quarter of the 19th century. The iprint of an eagle was made from teh swage block with two eagle impressions on it. Courtesy Old Salem, Inc.
Skewers were used to fasten meat to a spit and prevent it from slipping as the spit rotated. Skewers are simple functional objects, but the holders are eagerly sought because of their unique decorative quality and their rarity. There is always provision for hanging them on a nail near a fireplace. Some examples are more attractively decorated than this example. Courtesy Mercer Museum.
Silver basket by John McMullin, Philadelphia, c. 1800. In so far that many utensils for the table were made of silver, on ewould naturally think that such an object would have been very attractive for serving cake. Length 12 1/2 inches, width 8 3/8 inches. Courtesy Winterthur Museum
Provenance
Photographs from the estate of Henry Kauffman. Winterthur Museum accession number: 59.335c