Apple Corer 1791 - 1792

Curator: Looking at this image of an apple corer, the immediate thought that crosses my mind is that of a sleek, silver bullet, or maybe something a spy might use. Editor: Indeed, this unassuming object, currently housed in the Harvard Art Museums, is attributed to Charles Hougham, active in the latter half of the 18th century. The reflective surface and simple form do conjure images of efficiency. Curator: Absolutely! Something about the gleam and the way it catches light almost makes you forget what it's for. It's so streamlined! Does this object speak to the concept of planned obsolescence? Editor: Perhaps. It could also represent the rise of consumer culture at the time, where even the most mundane domestic tasks were subject to specialized tools. Though, I can imagine that it held quite a bit of status at the time! Curator: I imagine so! It’s a small thing, yet it offers such an interesting glimpse into the everyday. Editor: Right, it bridges the personal with the political, hinting at power structures embedded even within our simplest utensils.