Peter Krider
Cheese Scoop

Public Domain

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Images(4)

Maker Peter Krider (American, 1821–1895)American, 1821–1895

CultureAmerican

Titles

Cheese Scoop

Datec. 1871–1880

Made inPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

MediumSilver and silver gilding

Dimensions5/8 × 7 7/8 × 1 3/16 in. (6.7 × 20.0 × 3.0 cm)

Credit LineThe Bayou Bend Collection, museum purchase funded by a friend of Bayou Bend in honor of Michael K. Brown at "One Great Night in November, 2010"

Object numberB.2010.15

Current Location

Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens

Metals Study Room

On view

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Department

Bayou Bend

Object Type

METALWORK

DescriptionAmerican silver flatware from the second half of the 19th century constitutes a social phenomenon as these objects came to be regarded as markers of one’s position and breeding. In this respect, Americans far surpassed British and Continental society by introducing an array of table forms unique to this side of the Atlantic. In fact, by the end of the century, some patterns would comprise more than 100 different serving and place utensils. Responding to the increasing popularity of cheese, two distinct servers evolved: the cheese knife, and for softer varieties, a scoop. Just in case one was not familiar with this object, Krider has incorporated two elements that clearly relate its function—a cow, to suggest the source of the cheese, and a mouse positioned to gobble up any remnants remaining on the scoop.
Provenance Research Ongoing Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks

Small pseudo-hallmarks stamped on the reverse near the scoop: "[lion passant]" "R" (gothic) "[crown]"
Stamped on the reverse of the stem: "P.L. KRIDER" "STERLING" (both incuse)

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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