Sugar Bowl 1822 - 1825

This is a silver sugar bowl made by Garrett Eoff, a New York silversmith, sometime between the late 18th and early 19th centuries. An object like this reflects the centrality of mercantile exchange to the early American economy. Silverware like this sugar bowl speaks to the consumer appetites of a rising merchant class, and the role of slavery in generating commodities like sugar. The sugar bowl is Neoclassical in style with its symmetrical shape and simple lines, reflecting the influence of ancient Greek and Roman art and design that were very fashionable at the time. Silversmiths like Eoff would have learned their craft through a formal apprenticeship system, regulated by guilds that controlled production standards and protected the interests of craftsmen. Historical records like probate inventories and merchants’ papers can shed light on the ownership and use of such objects, helping us understand the social and economic context in which they were created and consumed. These resources underscore the complex relationship between art, commerce, and society in early America.