Moker c. 1590 - 1596

This is an anonymous moker, or sledgehammer, made of iron. An object like this sledgehammer reminds us that the history of art is also a history of labour. A tool like this embodies the countless hours of physical exertion that have gone into constructing our built environment. The iron itself speaks to the history of mining and metalwork, industries that have shaped the social and political landscape of many nations. Without knowing exactly when and where this tool was made, we can still see it as a testament to human ingenuity and the constant drive to shape the world around us. It suggests the lives of ordinary people, whose labour is often overlooked in traditional historical narratives. By studying objects like this in the context of their time, we can gain a deeper understanding of the social and economic forces that have shaped our world. The museum itself is an institution that shapes what we consider art.