Waste bowl (part of a set) 1773

This waste bowl was crafted from silver by Johan Henrik Blom, a silversmith active in Stockholm, Sweden, during the 18th century. The Rococo style, with its elaborate ornamentation and asymmetrical designs, reflects a culture of courtly refinement. But let's think about what a 'waste bowl' signifies. Its presence on a table implies abundance and a casual disposal of leftovers, which tells us much about social stratification at the time. The decorative motifs, though seemingly innocuous, would have been understood as markers of status. Silverware like this was not just functional; it was a declaration of social standing. To fully understand this bowl, we might consult probate inventories, guild records, and other archival documents. These resources can reveal details about workshop practices and the circulation of luxury goods in 18th-century Sweden, helping us to contextualize the role of art within a specific social framework.