Miniature tazza 1715 - 1735

This miniature tazza was made by David Clayton, a silversmith active in Dublin in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Crafted from silver, this diminutive piece reflects the values of its time. Silver, a precious material, was worked using techniques that required skilled labor, such as hammering, soldering, and polishing. The tazza's smooth, reflective surface and delicate form are a testament to the maker's expertise. Its small size, however, is a bit of a puzzle. Was it a toy, a salesman's sample, or something else altogether? Objects like this tazza offer a lens through which to consider historical social structures, wealth, and the division of labor. They remind us that even seemingly simple objects embody complex relationships between materials, making, and cultural context.