Description: This grill scraper was used by kitchen worker Leocio Luis-Perguero at the Windows on the World restaurant in the World Trade Center.
Context: Innovation is part of all work. Wanting a better grease scraper, Leocio Luis-Perguero adapted a commercially available paint scraper to his job in the kitchen of the Windows on the World restaurant. On September 10 he had taken the scraper home to resharpen it. Windows on the World, located on the 107th floor of the north tower of the World Trade Center, had a staff of about 450 workers. On the morning of September 11, over 70 people who were at work were trapped by the attack, and died when the building collapsed.
This white, crescent-shaped salad plate has a starry blue sky and a thin, yellow crescent moon baked into the surface. This plate was part of the collection of dinnerware used in the "Windows on the World" restaurant located on the 107th floor of Tower 1 of the World Trade Center. “Windows on the World” was a popular destination with building occupants, tourists, and city residents. The china survived because the owner of the restaurant had taken the china home for a private function.