Pair of Trencher Salt Cellars 1708 - 1709

Editor: Here we have William Fleming’s "Pair of Trencher Salt Cellars," made of what appears to be silver. They look so simple, almost industrial in their form. What do you see in them? Curator: I see more than mere decoration; these objects speak to the labor of the silversmith, the mining of the material, and the social ritual of dining. These weren't just aesthetic objects, but tools that reinforced social hierarchies and economies of taste. Editor: So, their value isn't just artistic but also lies in what they represent about the process of making and their place in society? Curator: Precisely. By examining the materials and function, we uncover a deeper narrative about consumption, class, and the very means of production in the 18th century. Editor: I'll definitely look at functional art with a different eye from now on! Curator: Indeed, materiality matters!