Waste bowl c. 1863 - 1912

This silver waste bowl was created by Bigelow, Kennard & Co. This piece suggests a time when even waste was handled with a certain degree of elegance. It invites us to consider the rituals of consumption and disposal through a gendered lens. How were women in charge of maintaining appearances of propriety and order? What was permissible to show and what was considered unsightly or unseemly? Silverware like this, often part of a larger tea set, reflects a culture deeply entrenched in social hierarchies and class distinctions. Consider the labor involved in extracting and refining the silver, not to mention the craftsmanship required to fashion it into this bowl. These objects acted as silent markers of wealth and status, reinforcing the power dynamics of the time. It prompts reflection on the emotional weight of material culture and the stories it silently tells about who we are and what we value.