Cann 1750 - 1775

This is a silver cann, crafted by Daniel Boyer in the mid-18th century. Its simple yet elegant design is immediately striking. The cann's body, gently curving, rests on a modest base, while the handle presents a flourish of baroque-inspired ornamentation. Consider the hammered texture of the silver. The surface, far from being uniformly smooth, catches and reflects light in a myriad of directions, creating a subtle play of shadow and highlight. This treatment softens the metallic sheen, inviting a tactile engagement with the object. The handle, with its volute and leaf-like terminal, introduces a counterpoint to the cann's otherwise understated form. This cann exists not merely as a functional object but as a signifier of status and taste. Its presence speaks to broader societal concerns around wealth, display, and the performance of gentility. It is an object whose meaning is constructed through its form, material, and the cultural codes it embodies.