Two tea caddies and a mixing caddy 1787

Editor: Here we have Willem van den Goorberg's "Two tea caddies and a mixing caddy" from 1787. It's metalwork, so clearly an object intended for functional use, but also it’s a rather elegant square form, though pretty subdued... almost severe. What do you see in these little containers? Curator: The caddy speaks volumes about ritual and cultural memory. Tea, itself, is heavily laden with symbolism. It is commerce, colonialism, domesticity and health; but the containers holding it are so interesting. We must consider that these shapes are a far cry from, say, hand painted Chinese porcelain. It is less ornamental and more linear. The surface textures make us consider how this cube exists materially and commercially in a time and place. Why do you think Goorberg moves in this stylistic direction? Editor: Well, looking at it, the Rococo style was dying out. It looks like these caddies favor functionality over the flourish of the decorative. They still have decorative elements in the tiny braiding around the top, but... Were they moving towards a more subdued opulence? Curator: Precisely. Rococo still thrived, but this echoes a subtle shift. Think about it: what feelings are evoked when something transitions from overtly opulent to functional? Is the owner seeking to imply restraint? Editor: It's a very interesting transition, it almost speaks of new opportunities to show taste in new, less obvious, ways. A bit more refined. Curator: Exactly. It speaks of the changing visual landscape and the emerging narratives around status, taste, and, above all, control. It makes one wonder what other objects in the household held similar significance.