Spice box c. 1600

This is a spice box in the shape of a ship, made of silver by an anonymous silversmith. The overall impression is one of opulence. Notice how the reflective surface of the silver interacts with light, creating a dynamic play of shadows and highlights across its hull. The vessel is elevated on an ornate pedestal, lifting the ship—and our gaze—upwards. Linear inscriptions and etched figures encircle the ship, suggesting narratives of trade and exploration. The scale, though modest, carries symbolic weight. The ship form, a potent signifier of trade, points to early global exchange. The choice of silver, a precious material, underscores the economic ambitions of the period, and the spice box becomes a symbolic vessel carrying not just spices but the weight of colonial enterprise. Consider how the ship form, traditionally associated with movement and discovery, is here grounded. It invites us to reflect on the cultural and economic structures that propelled these voyages.