Two cups and saucers from the Mackay Service 1878

These gilded silver cups and saucers were crafted by Tiffany & Co. as part of the Mackay Service, a dinner service commissioned in the late 19th century. This was a time when American industrialists were keen to flaunt their wealth, often through elaborate displays of luxury. The opulence of these cups speaks to more than just wealth; they represent an era of social stratification and the complicated relationship between art, labor, and consumerism. The Gilded Age saw an explosion of art collecting and patronage, but it also masked the exploitation of workers and the vast inequalities of the time. The cups almost become a symbol of that dichotomy: their beauty a glittering facade, that obscures the realities of the society that produced them. Consider how these objects are charged with the identity of the patrons and makers, reflecting societal values of the time. They invite us to consider how luxury items can be both beautiful and fraught with social implications.