Snuffers tray 1777 - 1778

Editor: This is the "Snuffers Tray" crafted from silver by Charles Aldrich around 1777-1778. It feels so delicate and refined. How can we see this object within the broader art and social landscape of its time? Curator: Well, this tray gives us a peek into the rituals of the upper class in the late 18th century. The Rococo style, with its emphasis on ornamentation and elegance, was favored by the aristocracy. It speaks to a culture obsessed with etiquette. Where would this piece typically reside? Editor: Probably in a wealthy home. Given it’s a "snuffers tray," I imagine near a fireplace and candles. What can this object tell us about social distinctions during its time? Curator: Exactly! Objects like this were markers of social status. Owning a silver tray crafted with such detail meant you had wealth, leisure time, and probably the space, domestic support, and social life to engage in this practice. Does the decorative work indicate mass production or bespoke crafting? Editor: The delicacy and detail certainly suggest bespoke work rather than something mass-produced. The lattice detailing is beautiful, if somewhat excessive by today’s standards. Curator: Indeed. Think about what it signifies, not just about the owner, but the artistry deemed worthy of precious materials like silver during the era, with a burgeoning colonial economy in America! Editor: So, this tray represents luxury but also artistry and the role decorative objects played in colonial power and influence. It also embodies cultural etiquette. It makes you consider how daily habits once served to underscore a certain sense of social hierarchy. Curator: Precisely! We move through time by studying items left behind!