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Hello,

Found this folky spoon with no marks among other coin silver spoons I have. Was it common for local smiths to produce spoons with "art" on it?

Thanks,

Ken

It's a Navajo spoon, with the simplicity of the stamping, undecorated bowl, etc., would guess probably no earlier than 1930s-40s.

http://925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=10434

~Cheryl

Was it common for local smiths to produce spoons with "art" on it?

Hello Ken

Here I give you an answer as a human of only European experience, and knowledge.

In this case I think, also all Americans, its equal they were in their past, or they are Natives, or Emigrants and their descendants = all they are humans; and humans like to make Art and Applied Art, or like to own them too!

Humans be gifted with human behaviour — it doesn’t matter, inherited from thousands of years ago, or hundred years of culture only.

The »Purists« Applied Art, like e.g. the »Shakers«, was »Cleanness«. Their main attempt was to serve their Christian God with their entire life. Their practice was also, letting “see” the purity in a table’s top, made from cherry wood. The texture of an ingrown branch accepted in top’s surface, like as another, different kind of »Ready made«. Or also in a kind of being some times a Miguel Angelo, who “saw” his »David« already in the by others negated, and worn “Duccio” block of stone. A »love story« became so her first sound.

A kind of results of »Purists« Applied Art you get also from the »Poorer« - humans who have to make some thing from nothing, like the famous Quilts; maybe to be made also in a limited time frame. They work as they could work — if it’s finished, the next job waits already in impatience on their handling; hunger and sleep neglecting.

The Applied Art of the »Curious« is a kind of a »Match« between the material and the maker. They play one with each other, like a siege; foul when the materials possibilities aren’t equal, or the workers knowledge fails. If the problematic zones of the item were solved; then after maybe they remained visible in a kind of decorative structure. Or they were covered with a decorative texture. Some of the principles of pattern are born this way!

The Applied Art of the »Theocrat« is most times »overdone« in material and in decorative texture too - a »show up« par excellence!

The Applied Art of the »Observers« is most often a kind of »Minimalism« in material. What they are making is a kind of »zigzags muscles man« — not “fat”. The items have an »intellectual appearance« — hence also often only accepted or beloved by »intellectuals«. Mr. and Mrs. Average need a while, until their grandchild explains them the quality: »Buy once — use ever«.

The Applied Art of the »Bored Inventor«, the item which would already well function is some times already basically made by themselves — but what should he do then after, by ten clients in a year? Or in the winter, when the substitution works, outside of the house couldn’t be done? Or being thousand miles on sea? Or became five years in jail?

Then start the little inventions in Applied Art: Two curves here, two curves there on knife’s haft — oh, there remained space for a “diamond” …

I suggest to you: Before yours next digging = visit an Ethnographic Museum, and study their collection.

You would leave wiser as before you’ve enter — and maybe before you leave, you donate them one of yours examples?

Thank you!

Kind regards silverport