Tobacco box 1691 - 1692

Editor: We’re looking at a silver tobacco box, made around 1691 or 1692. The shiny silver and swirling design almost make it look liquid. What historical contexts do you find most interesting about this piece? Curator: Considering its time, the prominence of a tobacco box like this one speaks volumes. Tobacco was not just a commodity; it was deeply woven into the social fabric, political economy, and even colonial ambitions. Think of the Virginia Company or the triangular trade - luxury items such as silver tobacco boxes visually celebrated wealth derived from colonial exploits. Editor: So, it’s not just a decorative item, but a signifier of wealth tied to…questionable sources? Curator: Exactly. How does understanding this influence your perception of the object, knowing its connection to historical systems of labor and resource extraction? Editor: I hadn't considered the politics embedded in such an object. It reframes the Baroque style here; the ornamentation feels less frivolous now. Did the owners of these boxes see any irony, or was it completely commonplace at the time? Curator: That’s difficult to ascertain definitively, isn’t it? However, the box serves as an enduring symbol. It asks us to critically assess how art is complicit in legitimizing the often invisible structures of power in its time. Editor: That’s given me a lot to think about, especially regarding the ethics of displaying such objects without this critical perspective. Curator: And hopefully prompts us to question the objects of wealth and status we value today, doesn't it?