Cup c. 1715

Editor: This is a silver cup, dating back to about 1715, created by Edward Winslow. The cool, smooth surface of the metal is interesting. What strikes you most about this piece? Curator: What intrigues me is not just the object itself but the hands that shaped it, and the socioeconomic system that brought the materials together. Winslow was a prominent silversmith in colonial Boston; think about the labor involved in mining and refining silver at that time, often forced labor. And who was commissioning such pieces? Editor: So you see it as reflecting the colonial economy of the time? Curator: Absolutely. Silver objects like this weren’t mere commodities; they signified wealth, status, and power within a very specific social hierarchy. How would the demographics of the buyer profile compare to those who mined, shipped and hammered this cup to completion? The hammered texture, seemingly simple, hints at a significant amount of skilled labor. Who benefited from this transaction? Editor: I see what you mean. I was initially drawn to the cup's simple design, but considering the colonial context definitely adds layers. I wouldn't have considered where Winslow sourced his materials, let alone who made them available and under which conditions. Curator: The means of production are key to understanding the piece. Imagine Winslow in his workshop, part of a transatlantic exchange of goods, and, sadly, enslaved peoples. These things are inextricable, and give dimension to something as innocuous as this handsome, gleaming drinking vessel. Editor: I’ll definitely look at decorative art differently from now on! Curator: Excellent! Every object carries its own historical encoding which it conveys via its materiality, the context and labor invested within it, and its inevitable participation within power systems.