Beaker 1762

This beaker was made by Caspar Olsen Rust, likely in Scandinavia during the 18th century, out of silver. A silversmith would have taken a flat sheet of silver and used tools like hammers and stakes to slowly raise it into this cylindrical form. Silver has always been prized for its malleability, luster, and resistance to corrosion, as well as its high intrinsic value. The floral engraving, possibly added later, shows the soft surface of the material. The making of an object like this wasn't just a technical exercise, but also a social one, because this beaker reflects the labor of miners who extracted the silver ore, and the skilled craftsmanship required to transform raw material into a refined object. Considering the material and the making helps us to understand how this simple drinking vessel transcends its function. It becomes a testament to human ingenuity and the interconnectedness of labor, material, and design, blurring the lines between utility and art.