Kitchen Caster 1719 - 1720

Curator: Let's turn our attention to "Kitchen Caster," this diminutive silver vessel, attributed to George Greenhill Jones, located here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Oh, it has a quiet dignity, a sense of understated luxury despite its small size. I'm drawn to the way the light catches its curves. Curator: The caster, measuring about 3 by 2 inches, speaks volumes about material culture. Silver, as a commodity, reflects status, labor, and trade networks. Editor: It feels like something passed down through generations, holding secrets of countless meals. Imagine the hands that polished it, the spices it once held. Curator: Exactly, and considering its place in the kitchen, it disrupts the rigid hierarchy between art and craft. The artistry here is in the making. Editor: It's a humble object, elevated through craft. I keep imagining its weight in my hand, a connection to the past, tangible and true. Curator: It makes you reconsider the beauty inherent in functional objects, doesn't it? Editor: Absolutely. This little caster, it's more than just a thing; it's a story.