Salver 19th century

Editor: Here we have a nineteenth-century salver made of metal, by Elkington & Co. currently held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The relief decoration of the salver depicts foliage and animals, making it feel quite celebratory and joyous to me. How do you interpret this work, especially with your deep knowledge of iconography? Curator: I see a conscious revival and reinterpretation of classical motifs. Consider how metalwork, particularly in precious metals, has historically signified wealth and status. Now, observe the animals intertwined with flora—what memories, what traditions do you think the maker is trying to evoke by placing it on a salver? Editor: I suppose the combination feels almost like a harvest festival... like a classical frieze, but translated into a nineteenth-century sensibility. Curator: Exactly. These images aren’t arbitrary. Ask yourself: What qualities are traditionally associated with each animal, and how do those meanings potentially reflect onto the owner or user of this object? It almost functions as a crest or family symbol, embedding cultural values, wouldn’t you agree? Editor: So, it's not just decorative; it's symbolic... a way to associate oneself with particular virtues or qualities. I hadn't considered the symbolic weight of the animals, just appreciating the naturalistic details. Curator: The choice of material, the style of the relief – these contribute to a carefully constructed message, speaking to ideas of legacy, prosperity, and the natural world, wouldn't you agree? Editor: Absolutely, seeing how symbols, even on decorative objects, carry profound meaning and connect us to the past in such a palpable way. Curator: It's fascinating to see how historical memory continues, reinvented through artistry.