Caster 1790 - 1800

Editor: Here we have "Caster" by Paul Revere, made of silver, no date given. It looks so delicate. What is your interpretation of this small piece? Curator: This caster speaks volumes about colonial America's class dynamics. Revere, while a patriot, catered to elite tastes. Silver, of course, symbolized wealth. The engraved bird—perhaps a fowl—hints at lavish dinners, at the expense of marginalized communities. Editor: So, it’s not just a pretty object? Curator: Not at all! It's a reminder that even revolutionary figures participated in systems of inequality. How do we reconcile that with their ideals? Editor: That gives me a lot to think about. I hadn't considered the social implications of such an everyday object. Curator: Exactly. Art invites us to question the narratives we inherit.