Sugar box 1711 - 1712

Editor: Here we have a silver sugar box, made by Ebenezer Roe between 1711 and 1712. It's currently residing in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It's...well, it's very silver, isn’t it? Simple in shape but clearly very crafted. I'm struck by how a humble material like sugar is elevated by its container. What do you see in it? Curator: It's precisely this elevation you point out that is key. Let's think about what silver signified in the early 18th century. Silver wasn't just a pretty metal; it was a concentrated form of wealth, directly linked to colonial exploitation. How does the material itself – silver – connect to larger networks of trade and labor at this time? Editor: So, the box isn't just a container, it's evidence of the whole colonial system, right? The silver mined, the sugar harvested by enslaved people, the craftsman transforming raw materials… it's all embodied here. Curator: Exactly. This isn’t just Baroque decorative art; it’s a material testament to complex power dynamics. Consider also, why silver? Why this shape? Think about the patrons, the consumers of sugar. What kind of messages were being sent, what power being accrued through the presentation of sugar within such a costly piece? Editor: That puts it in a whole new light. I hadn't thought about the craftsmanship of the box itself as related to larger power structures; that making this one object also speaks to the vast differences between who mined and harvested, and who owned the finished product. Curator: Precisely. The box performs the work of hiding the social reality from which sugar and silver are sourced. But, it’s also an opportunity to excavate that history through a material analysis. The silver becomes almost a witness, reflecting both luxury and exploitation. Editor: I'll never look at a decorative art piece the same way again! It's fascinating how an object can tell such a complicated story. Curator: Indeed. Everyday objects carry embedded meanings and processes waiting to be revealed through mindful examination.