Spoon
William Ward
(American (born in Killingworth, Connecticut), 1678–1768)
1698–1715
Object PlaceWallingford or Guilford, Connecticut
Medium/TechniqueSilver
Dimensions4.4 x 18.4 cm (1 3/4 x 7 1/4 in.)
Credit LineGift of Mrs. Warren Christie Moffett in honor of her grandfather, Francis Henry Bergen, and her mother, Ruth Bergen Dort
Accession number1992.273
On View
Not on viewClassificationsSilver flatware
Collections
Few works are known by William Ward of Killingworth, Connecticut, whose progeny worked as silversmiths and possibly as clockmakers. These include his sons Macock Ward (1702 – 1783) and William Jr. (1705/6 – 1761). His grandson Bilious Ward (1729 – 1777), son of William Jr., was known to have made a paten for Dr. Samuel Johnson, first president of Kings College (now Columbia University).
This early trifid-handled spoon may have been made in Guilford, Connecticut, where Ward worked at the start of his career. Two spoons bearing the “WW” and stars mark are in the collection of Historic Deerfield; one is trifid handled, and the other is a round-ended example having a front midrib and an upturned handle.
