Coin Silver Teaspoon by Solomon Ralph Biesenthal

A coin silver teaspoon crafted by Solomon Ralph Biesenthal of Louisville, Kentucky. Marked "S.R. Biesenthal," it dates to circa 1858-1860. The bowl shows dents and dings. This item is part of a collection documenting the life and work of Biesenthal, a Jewish silversmith in the antebellum American South, and the challenges faced by Jewish craftspeople in a slave-based economy. Accompanying documentation includes an essay by Gary Dean Gardner, detailing Biesenthal's life, career, and the societal context of his work in Louisville, Kentucky. The essay draws upon newspaper articles, census records, and fraternal organization records to reconstruct Biesenthal's story, including details of his arrest on a false charge, the robbery of his shop, and the suicide of his father-in-law. The essay also discusses the limited historical scholarship available on Jewish craftsmen in the American South.

Associated People/Businesses

• Biesenthal, Solomon Ralph

Geography

No geographic information available.

Subjects

• Silversmiths -- Kentucky -- Louisville
• Jewish silversmiths -- Kentucky -- Louisville
• Coin silver -- Kentucky -- Louisville
• Antisemitism -- Kentucky -- Louisville -- 19th century
• Jewish Americans -- Kentucky -- Louisville -- 19th century

Physical Location

Arc.MS.56, Objects Box 1