Emmer c. 1649 - 1689

Curator: Looking at this piece, I find it hard not to describe it as exuding baroque exuberance. Editor: Indeed! We're observing "Emmer," a decorative-art object realized in silver, most likely sometime between 1649 and 1689 by Boele Rijnhout. The very precision is remarkable. It speaks of a society fascinated by elaborate detail. Curator: For me, the pure, geometric forms are interesting—this squat cylinder adorned with spheres. The relationship is highly effective, a simple contrast amplified by light on metal. What kind of politics shaped its function as a cultural object? Editor: Such items served practical functions, of course. Silver suggested wealth, status. One could point to sumptuary laws; a visible indicator of hierarchy. Consider it amidst a broader societal context where even the smallest items reinforced social roles. Curator: And, yet, observe the intricate leaf design contained within, contained again between horizontal beaded lines. Isn't there also a delicate, restrained aesthetic statement? The Baroque impulse carefully calibrated and contained. Editor: That containment is intriguing given the time period. There were conflicts playing out within social hierarchies across Europe—the material reflects some of the era's social ambitions even as it seemingly tries to be modest. Curator: You mentioned practicality, but given its size, this might have served an aspirational rather than utilitarian purpose. Like jewelry worn to show, more than used to accomplish daily tasks. The value resided in its representation. Editor: Exactly, so what do we make of Rijnhout as the crafter, in that matrix of meaning? The artisan mediates. One might investigate the extent to which silversmith guilds controlled their own narrative in relation to ruling-class patronage. Curator: Fascinating. As an exercise of formalism, I have relished examining its pure lines and subtle ornamental grace. Editor: Likewise, I appreciated the glimpse of sociopolitical dynamics distilled here. Art in microcosm, prompting grander questions about our past.