This spoon belongs to a small group of silver that is recognized as being among the most sophisticated American flatware dating from the first four decades of the 19th century. A modified version of the King’s pattern, the central shell has been replaced by a profile of George Washington after the life portrait that Jean-Antoine Houdon took at Mount Vernon in 1785. Scholars have theorized that this silver was made about 1832 to coincide with the centennial of Washington’s birth.

The attribution presents a challenge. It is stamped “Harland,” which is usually associated with Thomas Harland (1735–1807). But this same stamp was also used by his son Henry. In 1773, Thomas immigrated to America from England and settled in Norwich, Connecticut, where he advertised as a silversmith, watchmaker, and clockmaker. The latest record of Thomas’ business is the apprenticeship of his son Henry about 1802. Henry worked in New Orleans between 1815 and 1832, and later returned to Norwich.

It has been suggested that Thomas Harland made the flatware in response to Washington’s death in 1799. While possible, this scenario is doubtful since it is a very early date for this die pattern. By the 1830s, King’s double-thread flatware enjoyed widespread popularity and the more plausible interpretation is that Henry made the flatware upon his return to Norwich. This explanation is given added credence since the engraved initials, DCY, are believed to be those of Daniel Yeomans of Norwich.

Regardless of the maker, the innovative and rare pattern is the first of its kind known in this country. In fact, profiles on flatware are purely an American creation. This spoon exhibits the first die-struck pattern of Washington on flatware—making it a precursor for medallion patterns popular in the 1860s.

Related works: Four identical spoons from the Yeomans service, along with a dozen forks exclusive of the monogram, are in the Winterthur Museum, and a dessert spoon is in the Yale University Art Gallery.