Date: Fri 24-Sep-1999

Publication: Ant

Author: JUDIR

Quick Words:

Lauren-Stanley-ladles

Full Text:

Lauren Stanley Exhibits American Soup Ladle

(with 5 CUTS)

NEW YORK CITY -- A collection of American silver soup ladles, dating from

1800-1900 and never before publicly exhibited, will be on display through

November 20 at The Lauren Stanley Gallery located at 300 East 51st Street.

Chosen under the guidance of American silver historian D. Albert Soeffing,

these rare ladles have been borrowed from several important individual

collectors and from The Lauren Stanley Gallery Collection. Among the silver

craftsmen represented are: Albert Coles, Dominick & Haff, William Gale, Gorham

& Co., Tiffany & Co., Whiting Manufacturing Co. and Wood & Hughes. A number of

rare historical pieces will be on display, including the Egyptian Revival

ladle by Albert Coles, the Tomato Vine pattern by Tiffany and the Japanese

pattern by Gorham.

Nineteenth Century soup ladles constitute an insight into American economic

and social history and, as such, speak volumes about hospitality and manners

of the American public of the period.

In his essay entitled "Everyone Takes It, of Course," Soeffing reports, "The

soup ladle has an ancient past and is generally speaking the largest of all

flatware forms made in silver for table use. In an earlier age, when silver in

any form was directly convertible to use as money, the silver soup ladle

issued a statement of wealth and refinement.

"Previous to 1860, no formal or complete American dinner was served without

soup and, as is often still the case today, it comprised the first course. It

was improper to refuse soup. An American Lady's True Politeness , 1853,

instructs the host: `Do not ask anyone if they will be helped, as everyone

takes it of course.' Besides fish, it was the only course for which it was

forbidden to ask for additional portions.

"Although the excuse for everyone to take his soup is given as a convenience

for the introduction of the dinner to the assembled, one cannot but feel that

the rule is linked to the offer and receipt of hospitality -- in the same vein

as the breaking of bread and the sharing of salt. This thought carries

foreword when observing that the soup is ladled by the host's own hand.

"The soup ladle was prized; the very size of it on the table drew notice. When

set in a tureen, it rose well above the table -- certainly making a statement.

It was often used as a lavish and important presentation piece, especially a

favorite for weddings and silver anniversaries. Although made in all the usual

flatware designs for line patterns, it was often made in ornate designs and

patterns which did not match the regular forks and spoons of table settings.

It is obvious that silversmiths of the time lavished a great amount of thought

and work in their execution."

The soup ladles gathered for this exhibition survey the form in terms of

chronology, design and maker/manufacturer.

The exhibition is hosted by The Lauren Stanley Gallery, specialists in

museum-quality Nineteenth Century American silver.

Telephone, 212/888-6732.