Sugar Bowl and Lid (part of a set) 1900

This is a silver sugar bowl and lid, part of a set, crafted by the Gorham Manufacturing Company, established in 1831. Silverware like this sugar bowl speaks to the intricate dance between luxury and labor during the height of industrialization. Consider the journey of sugar itself, from Caribbean plantations fueled by enslaved labor, to the tables of the American elite. The Gorham Manufacturing Company was at the forefront of American silver production, catering to the tastes of the upper class, who wanted ornate objects like this sugar bowl. The floral motifs evoke a sense of natural abundance, masking the harsh realities of the sugar trade with a veneer of gentility. This object, beautiful as it is, invites us to reflect on the complex histories of trade, labor, and consumption that shape our material world. How does the beauty of this piece complicate its history?