Tobacco box 1750 - 1799

This gilded tobacco box was crafted by Giese. Its surface is decorated with a scene depicting ships at sea. While seemingly innocuous, objects like these offer us a glimpse into the entwined histories of global trade, colonialism, and consumption. In this instance the ships point to a period where maritime powers were expanding their reach across the globe, establishing trade routes, and colonizing new territories. Tobacco, as a commodity, played a significant role in this expansion, becoming a valuable trade good that fueled economic growth but also relied on the exploitation of labor, particularly enslaved Africans in the Americas. This box then is not merely an object of personal use, but a symbol of broader historical processes. It invites us to consider the ethical implications of our consumption habits. Objects like this made, by unnamed people, often stand at the intersection of luxury and exploitation.