Tray 1793 - 1794

Editor: Here we have a silver tray by Samuel Godbehere at the Harvard Art Museums. The etching is very delicate. What do you see when you look at this piece? Curator: I see a coded language of power and privilege. Silverware like this wasn't just functional; it performed status. Who had access to such luxury, and what did it mean to exclude others? Editor: So, it's less about the object itself and more about what it represents in society? Curator: Exactly. It invites us to question the systems that allow such disparity. How does the inherent value of silver influence societal power dynamics? Editor: I never thought about a tray holding so much historical weight. Thanks for that perspective! Curator: And thank you for seeing beyond its surface. It is a potent reminder that every object tells a story deeply rooted in social structures.