Snuffers 1765 - 1766

This is a pair of silver snuffers made by John Buckett sometime in the 1700s. Observe how the utilitarian object transforms into a decorative piece through floral motifs. Flowers have long served as symbols of nature's beauty and the ephemeral quality of life, echoing classical themes of vanitas. These floral designs are not merely decorative but serve as potent reminders of mortality and renewal. The motif of the flower in full bloom, here etched onto a tool designed to extinguish a flame, mirrors the cyclical nature of existence, resonating with images of birth, death, and rebirth found in ancient Greek and Roman art. Consider how such emblems persist, evolving across centuries, from ancient friezes to adornments on everyday objects, linking us to an unbroken chain of cultural memory and the human condition.