Snuffbox 1760 - 1770

This golden snuffbox was crafted by Myer Myers, a prominent New York silversmith during the 18th century. The relief on its surface depicts a classical scene, reflecting the era's fascination with antiquity. Now, what does this object tell us about the society it came from? The classical imagery signals a desire among elites in the colonies to associate themselves with the cultural and political ideals of ancient Greece and Rome. But the box was made in America, by a Jewish silversmith, for a society built on slavery and indentured servitude. Myers’s religious identity marks him as an outsider. The presence of such objects shows us that the story of early America is far more complex than simple narratives of cultural purity. Understanding the meaning of this snuffbox demands that we consider the social status of its maker, the aspirations of its owner, and the fraught relationship between classical ideals and colonial realities. By combining object study with archival research, we can bring those complexities to light.