Museum Collections
Luce Center
Ladle
The Livingston family acquired silver in the United States and Paris. Robert R. Livingston himself owned several works made by prominent New York City silversmiths. As was the custom, the family's silver tableware, including this ladle, was marked with one of two variations of the Livingston crest. Interestly, the family used both an older Scottish motto "Si Je Puis" (If I Can) and then the subsquent "Spero Meliora" (I hope for better things). The use of heraldry distinguished the Livingston family as one of the oldest and grandest in New York.