Pair of tapersticks 1718 - 1719

Editor: Here we have a "Pair of Tapersticks" made in 1718-1719 by Thomas Folkingham. They're crafted from silver and strike me as quite austere, despite their Baroque style. How do you read this piece, especially considering the socio-political climate of early 18th century England? Curator: That austerity you perceive is interesting. Consider the Baroque era, often associated with opulence, being tempered here. Early 18th century England was experiencing a shift in power, the rise of a merchant class, and a questioning of established hierarchies. How might these tapersticks, as objects of domestic display, reflect a negotiation between aristocratic tradition and emerging bourgeois values? Editor: So, instead of pure ornamentation, they represent something more complex, maybe even conflicted? Curator: Precisely. The silver material signifies wealth, but the restrained design speaks to a different sensibility. Think about who these objects were made for. Were they meant to emulate aristocratic taste, or project a new kind of self-made status? And, how does the pairing, the duality, inform our understanding of status, gender and social interaction? Editor: It's fascinating how everyday objects can become these concentrated sites of social tension and identity! I would've seen them just as pretty candlesticks, but now I see them representing so much more about the time and the people who owned them. Curator: Exactly! By situating the tapersticks within their historical and social context, we gain insight into the complex dynamics of identity and social mobility. It’s a reminder that even the most seemingly innocuous objects can tell powerful stories about cultural shifts and negotiations of power.