Mustard pot and spoon (one of a pair) 1771 - 1772

This silver mustard pot with spoon was crafted by Edward Aldridge II during the late 18th century. In a time defined by rigid social hierarchies, luxury items like this served as potent symbols of status and wealth, reflecting the vast disparities in access and privilege that shaped Georgian society. The Aldridge family were well-known silversmiths during the 18th century, and their work was both an indication of and a contribution to the development of the division of labor. But let's consider for a moment the labor required to produce the silver, the human cost of mining and extraction. While the elegant geometric patterns may catch the eye, they also subtly underscore the complex interplay of power, labor, and consumption that defined the era, and how these objects were very much part of the global landscape of trade and colonialism.