Porringer 1773 - 1856

Editor: So this is a metal porringer, likely dating between 1773 and 1856, crafted by Samuel Hamlin. It's utilitarian, a bowl-like object, but its handle is so ornate, even delicate. What can you tell me about this piece, especially considering its historical period? Curator: What I find fascinating is precisely that tension: its everyday function versus its surprisingly elaborate handle. Hamlin was working during a time when decorative arts served as a visible marker of status and taste. Objects like this porringer moved beyond mere utility; they spoke volumes about the owner’s social standing. How do you think the production of silver, often by enslaved laborers in other contexts, factors into its social role? Editor: That's a chilling, but crucial point. So owning something like this wasn't just about having a dish, but also about participation in a larger, often unjust, economic system. Does its display location in the Met also shape how we perceive it today? Curator: Absolutely. Museums, like the Met, inherently ascribe value. Placing this porringer within its collection elevates it, separating it from its original domestic context. Now, it serves as a representation of a specific period, highlighting the craftsmanship and design sensibilities of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Consider how seeing it displayed in a museum changes our understanding compared to, say, finding it in an antique shop. Editor: It makes you consider its journey through time, from a personal object to a historical artifact on display. Curator: Exactly! And its existence raises questions about consumption, labor, and how objects can embody social and political narratives far beyond their apparent purpose. Editor: This conversation reframed how I saw this object entirely! Curator: And that’s the power of looking at art through a historical lens!