Fruit dish (one of a pair) 1766 - 1767

This silver fruit dish was created by Thomas Heming sometime before his death in 1773. As a prominent goldsmith in 18th-century London, Heming catered to the tastes of the British elite, a society deeply entrenched in displaying wealth and status. Consider that for whom such luxury items were made, access to even simple fruit was a signifier of wealth. Fruit was not always available. The elaborate design, with its undulating form and ornate feet, speaks to a culture of excess and a hierarchy where visual symbols reinforced social positions. How does an object like this shape our understanding of consumption and class? Think about how it feels to consider the labor that went into crafting such a piece, knowing that the majority of people at the time could never afford it. This dish becomes more than just a vessel; it is a relic of a deeply unequal society.