Toddy warmer 1738 - 1739

George Jones created this toddy warmer from silver and wood sometime in the mid-18th century. The form and materials of this object speak to a particular moment in British social history. The toddy warmer represents the rise of consumer culture and domestic comforts among the middle classes. As trade routes expanded and new goods became available, items like this reflected a growing emphasis on leisure and hospitality. Silver, though not as precious as gold, signified wealth. Note the engraved heraldic symbols of the family for whom this was made, asserting the family's status through imagery. The drink itself, toddy, a mix of spirits, hot water, and spices, suggests the colonial trade and the availability of exotic commodities. Objects like this are invaluable to historians. Auction records, family papers, and other archives can reveal the social networks and economic forces that shaped its creation and use. Such pieces of material culture help us to better understand the daily lives and aspirations of people in the past.