Sugar Urn and Cream Pot c. 1793

These elegant forms are a sugar urn and cream pot, created in the late 18th century by the New York silversmith Daniel Van Voorhis. They were each hand-raised from sheets of sterling silver and finished with cast details. Consider the cultural context that these pieces evoke. They are not merely functional objects. The sugar urn speaks volumes about global trade networks, labor, and social class. The refining of sugarcane involved enslaved labor in the West Indies, and its transport and sale generated fortunes for merchants. Thus, this modest urn encapsulates a vast system of exploitation. Even the cream pot reflects social stratification, representing the leisure time to enjoy such finery. These works reveal the deep interconnection between artistry, consumption, and the economic forces that shaped early America.