Two-Handled Cup 1690

This two-handled cup was made in Boston, Massachusetts, by Jeremiah Dummer, a silversmith active in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Dummer's work provides a window into the material culture of early colonial America. Objects like this weren't just functional, they were potent symbols of wealth, status, and social connection. In a society still structured along hierarchical lines, owning and displaying such items reinforced class distinctions. The cup's design, while elegant, reflects European styles, underscoring the colonists' ties to their mother country and their aspirations to emulate European gentility. To understand Dummer’s work fully, we need to consult period inventories, probate records, and other documents. These can reveal who owned such objects, how they were used, and what they meant within the context of colonial society. In this way, material culture offers insights into the social and institutional dynamics of the past.