Sweetmeat Dish 1631 - 1632

This sweetmeat dish of undetermined date was made by W. Maunday using silver. Its purpose was to hold sugary treats, but it also acted as a status symbol. As an object of material culture, the dish speaks volumes about the history of social class. Silverware like this was a common feature of bourgeois life in Europe and America, particularly between the 17th and 19th centuries. Owning such an item indicated that you had the wealth to spend on non-essential items. The dish’s floral imagery, typical of domestic design, also served to reinforce particular notions of femininity. It can tell us a lot about the gendered division of space during the period in which it was most likely produced. By studying objects like this, historians can better understand social norms and cultural expectations. We can delve into the museum’s archives and use other historical resources to learn more about domestic life and the social values associated with silverware.