Detail View: SHIMMER: Millennium Canteen

Millennium Canteen

Tea Spoon

1998

14 cm long

1998

20th century

Sheffield, South Yorkshire

ENGLAND, UK

sterling silver , natural shell , twine

TYSSEN, Keith

98-3330

Tea Spoon - detail. Serving Spoon: Sterling Silver, natural shell, twigs and twine. Teaspoon: Sterling Silver and natural shell stitched together by a 'noble' yellow metal. Designer's comments: "My designs are a personal comment on the evolution of The Spoon - from Stone Age man's most elementary use of an empty shell for scooping up the broth of a memorable dish of Moules a la Mariniere - thence by evolving a simple way of binding a shell onto a short stick the better for keeping the fingers out of a chilled watercress soup and so as not to grease-up the glass of a fine Chardonnay! Some of the most elegant of early metal spoons (surviving mostly in bronze from 2000 years ago) reached their watershed or perhaps more appositely 'hot spring waters' shed during Roman times. During an early part of our own century, cutlery makers profited by their sharing of elegantly formalised 'common' designs such as 'Old English', the 'Kings Pattern' and my personal favourite the 'Fiddle Pattern'. The spoon is surely one of man's earliest and most useful tools. It has travelled how many millennia in its subsequent development until thus becoming a 'classic', a comforting stylised 'parish' pattern and ubiquitous within our 20th century way of life. My spoons for the Millennium Canteen are rooted in such things." The Millennium Canteen was commissioned as part of 700 Years of Sheffield Cutlery celebrations, and is dedicated to Robert The Cutler. This unique collection of cutlery was presented to the City of Sheffield by the Master Cutler, Mr Paul Tear, on November 22nd 1997 at the City Museum, Western Bank, Sheffield. The Millennium Canteen was commissioned by Sheffield City Council and the Association of British Designer Silversmiths. The project was generously supported by The Sheffield Assay Office, Thessco Limited and The National Lottery through the Arts Council of England. The project was conceived by Paul Swales, Public Art Officer for Sheffield City Council. "The commission was designed to promote excellence in design and production, and to give makers an opportunity for experiment and innovation. The ABDS makers rose to this challenge to create work that will stand as exemplars for future generations and demonstrate the creative and technical skill in silverware at the end of the 20th century." 18/03/98 - Paul Swales, Public Art Officer, Sheffield City Council. Howard Fenn, Chairman, Association of British Designer Silversmiths. The Canteen is on display in the Millennium Galleries, Sheffield.

© Sheffield Hallam University and Sheffield City Council

For educational use only. This image may be used in print or digital materials provided that full acknowledgment is given, expressed as follows: " © < insert details from the 'Rights' field >. Photographed by < insert details from the 'Photographed by' field >."

Millennium Canteen. For more information see < http://public-art.shu.ac.uk/sheffield/canteen1.html >.

Alan Booth / Pete Fisher

TYSSEN, Keith

1934

Silversmith and designer. Staff at Sheffield Hallam University.

Male.

British.

Cutlery -- Design

Design exhibitions

Association of British Designer Silversmiths

Spoons

Cutlery -- England -- Sheffield

Shells