Sconce (one of a pair) 1700 - 1701

Editor: Here we have a silver sconce, actually one of a pair, crafted around 1700 or 1701 by Joseph Ward. The detail is just incredible! There's a sort of... jubilant quality to it, almost overwhelming with its abundance of cherubs and foliage. How might we interpret a piece like this through a historical lens? Curator: Considering its date and medium, it’s imperative to think about the socio-political context of early 18th-century decorative arts. Silver, of course, signifies wealth and power. A sconce like this wasn’t just functional; it was a proclamation of status, a carefully curated performance of affluence intended for a specific audience. Notice the cherubs. Who do you imagine might be the initial owner or commissioner of such a piece? Editor: Perhaps someone in the aristocracy? They certainly had the means. I can also see the "angel" tag, and there is an eagle there too, so it could also belong to someone with an interest in religious and political imagery. Curator: Exactly! Think about the Baroque aesthetic and its ties to both religious and political power structures of the era. The abundance you mentioned? It isn’t just decoration. It’s visual rhetoric designed to impress, to convey authority, maybe even divine favor. Who controls light and its symbolic representations controlled much more in society back then! And it hung on the walls where light and shadow danced. Editor: So, it was about more than just lighting a room; it was about reinforcing a social order? Curator: Precisely! The object is beautiful, but also part of a system, a conversation, a power dynamic. We often forget these objects were active participants in shaping the spaces and societies they inhabited. How different is a modern smart phone, carefully crafted to demonstrate...something! Editor: I guess you are right! Thanks, this gives me a whole new perspective on how even seemingly simple decorative objects can tell a rich story.