Root box 1727 - 1732

This small silver box, initialed by the maker R.F., presents us with an object of intriguing, and perhaps deceptive, simplicity. The ‘Root box’ title suggests a container for organic matter, perhaps medicinal herbs. But what social rituals might surround the use of such a box? Who would commission it? What status would they hold? We should note the material. Silver was a precious commodity, so the creation of this small box suggests a degree of wealth and status for its owner. The engraved decoration also invites close inspection, as the delicate patterns and motifs would have been executed by a skilled hand. Was this created as a luxury item for the bourgeoise of the 17th or 18th century? Or was it intended as a functional item for apothecaries? Looking at the historical record can provide insight. Trade routes and recipe books from the time, as well as studies of fashionable society, can help us contextualize this enigmatic item. The meaning of an artwork depends on the social and institutional context in which it was created.