Kan met deksel in vorm van dolfijn 1764

This delicate drawing of a ewer with a dolphin-shaped lid was made by Benigno Bossi, sometime in the late eighteenth century. As a design for silver, it connects directly to the modes of production of the time. Bossi rendered the object in meticulous detail, giving a sense of its textures and contours. The vertically ribbed body and the elaborately decorated lid featuring a dolphin suggest that this object was intended to be impressive, expensive, and made for an aristocratic client. It likely would have been crafted through a combination of techniques, including hammering, casting, and chasing, requiring the skills of specialized silversmiths. Consider the social context: the division of labor in metal workshops, and the hierarchies of skill involved in producing such luxury goods. It is a reminder that even seemingly straightforward drawings can reflect complex networks of labor, politics, and consumption. By recognizing the intense amount of work involved in its design and potential production, we begin to see past traditional boundaries of fine art and craft.