Chafing Dish 1740 - 1745

This Chafing Dish was made by John Burt, a silversmith active in Boston during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Silver objects like this one reflect the economic and social structures of colonial America. They speak to the rise of a merchant class in the colonies, which accumulated wealth through trade and land ownership. The presence of such luxury items indicates participation in transatlantic trade networks, including the trade of enslaved people, which generated wealth for some colonists while perpetuating brutal systems of oppression. This dish represents the gendered dynamics of colonial life, where elite women oversaw the domestic sphere. It would have been used to keep food warm at the table, suggesting a concern for hospitality and display. The craftsmanship and design also reflect the aesthetic preferences of the time, influenced by European styles but adapted to local tastes and resources.