Hexagonal canister (Schraubflasche) 1645 - 1655

This hexagonal canister was made by Jonas Laminit, sometime between 1590 and 1690. The silver object shows us the exquisite tastes of the European elite during a period of intense global trade and cultural exchange. Consider the intricate floral and avian motifs. They speak to the contemporary fascination with the natural world, fueled by explorations and colonial expansion. As Europeans traversed the globe, they encountered new species, reshaping their understanding of the world, and appropriating it for their own use. What did it mean to possess such an object, fashioned from precious materials and adorned with symbols of a world being simultaneously discovered and exploited? This canister prompts us to reflect on the intertwined histories of art, commerce, and colonialism, and on the personal desires and societal structures they reflect.