Odd Fellows ceremonial key 1856

Editor: This is the Odd Fellows ceremonial key from 1856. I understand it’s a composite of different materials like metal, wood, and potentially gold leafing, so this isn’t purely functional; it's symbolic and ornate. What intrigues me is its scale and combination of humble and precious materials. As a crafted object, how does materiality impact the symbolism it conveys? Curator: The blending of wood and potentially gold, and the very process of meticulously shaping those materials is fascinating, right? It reveals the labour involved, both the skilled labor and the resources extracted, and we have to consider who would have made this, how they were paid, and how this key connects to 19th-century commodity culture. And does it truly "transcend" its materials given that context? Editor: So, the materials themselves tell a story of labor and consumption in 1856, not just of fraternal order symbolism? I'm used to thinking about what's *depicted,* but the materials themselves have a story? Curator: Precisely! This wasn't mass-produced plastic; this object required extraction, refinement, and artisanal skill. Consider the value judgements embedded: cheap versus valuable materials, skilled versus unskilled labour. How does this physical thing mediate class relationships, and shape social meanings, then and now? The cross symbol, the supposed "intrinsic" worth, it is all tied up in materiality. Editor: That makes me look at it in a whole new light. I never thought about the "how" so much before. I suppose the raw materials have political meanings that an object, in its totality, ends up representing. Curator: Indeed. By centering the materiality, we reveal embedded cultural values concerning labor, access to resources, and modes of production that we might otherwise overlook in favor of straightforward iconographic interpretations. Editor: So much to think about. I will never see an art piece again the same way after this conversation. Thanks so much. Curator: My pleasure!