Creamer 1797 - 1800

This creamer was made by Christian Wiltberger, a New York silversmith active in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It’s crafted from sterling silver, a precious material that would have signified wealth and status at the time. The creamer's form is neoclassical, with a fluted body and delicate engraving. Silver is a highly malleable material, ideal for shaping with hammers and forming tools. Wiltberger would have used these to create the vessel’s elegant curves and sharp lines. Look closely, and you’ll see the marks of his labor in the subtle planishing marks on the surface. The neoclassical design, combined with the precious material, speaks to a culture of refinement and gentility. Owning such an object would have been a way for families to display their social standing. But think, too, about the labor involved in extracting, refining, and shaping the silver, and the social hierarchies implied by its consumption. This creamer is a reminder that even the most beautiful objects are embedded in complex systems of production and exchange, and it asks us to consider the relationship between artistry, labor, and social status.