Wedding knife, fork and sheath 1650 - 1675

Curator: This "Wedding knife, fork and sheath," dating from between 1650 and 1675, presents a fascinating convergence of domesticity and display, rendered in intricately carved ivory. What strikes you most about this object? Editor: Well, the sheer amount of detail is incredible. And the contrast of the delicate ivory with what I assume are metal implements, seems quite deliberate. What kind of message do you think it conveys? Curator: I'd say it encapsulates the performative aspect of marriage within the Baroque period, reflecting a social hierarchy where even eating utensils became a canvas for asserting status and projecting idealised narratives of love and power. The figuration, with its classical allusions, speaks to an elite audience familiar with those visual cues. Have you considered the colonial implications inherent in the use of ivory, particularly within that timeframe? Editor: I hadn’t, actually. That’s a really good point. The ivory itself becomes a loaded material, doesn't it? Sourced, most likely, through exploitative trade practices. It definitely changes my perspective on the piece. Does it speak to some particular politics of display? Curator: Precisely. The act of carving transforms a raw material obtained through unequal global exchange into an object celebrating an idealized union, subtly reinforcing those very power dynamics. In viewing it today, we can recognize its artistry while also critically examining the ethical complexities embedded in its creation. Does thinking about these intersections change your understanding of the artwork? Editor: Absolutely. It adds so many more layers. I was initially focused on aesthetics, but understanding the socio-political context is crucial to truly appreciating, and questioning, its meaning. Curator: It’s in that tension between appreciation and critical interrogation that true understanding lies, and where contemporary discussions of art history must go. Editor: I'll definitely be more conscious of material sourcing moving forward, thanks.