Sauceboat 1753 - 1754

This elegant sauceboat was crafted by Robert Lowe, a New York silversmith active in the late 18th century. In a society increasingly defined by class and wealth, objects like this weren't just functional—they were potent symbols of status. Imagine the world in which this object circulated; colonial America on the cusp of revolution. Silver, like land, was a form of capital. Who owned it, who made it, and who used it spoke volumes about the social hierarchy. The silversmith, often an artisan of considerable standing, catered to the elite, producing wares that reflected their aspirations. The curves and flourishes speak to a desire for refinement, while also hinting at the complex web of labor and resources that made such luxury possible. What stories could this sauceboat tell, if it could talk?