Miniature poker (part of a set) 1715 - 1735

Editor: Here we have a "Miniature Poker," part of a set, crafted sometime between 1715 and 1735. It's made of silver, and is currently held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It's quite petite! It feels almost like a child's toy. How do you interpret a decorative piece like this within its historical context? Curator: The key is to think about display, about status, and about the performance of wealth in the early 18th century. This isn't simply a functional object shrunk down. Instead, think of it as a miniature simulacrum reflecting larger societal structures. Consider where such an object might be found: in a cabinet of curiosities, perhaps? These weren't just personal collections; they were curated statements about their owner’s sophistication, wealth, and engagement with the wider world. Editor: So, the very act of possessing and displaying something like this poker was a deliberate social performance? Curator: Precisely. What kind of message was being conveyed by owning a set? Think about access and the labour needed to produce luxury items such as this piece. A set such as this required specialized skills. It signalled a separation from the everyday. Can you imagine this poker in the hand of someone involved with Colonial ventures, and perhaps how it reflected that status and those connections? Editor: That’s a perspective shift for me. It goes beyond mere ornamentation and gets into the complex arena of socio-political statements. I see this miniature poker not as a delicate item but as a marker of influence and colonial reach during its time. Curator: Exactly. It's through these lenses we examine decorative art of the period. It teaches us about the public role and the subtle politics inherent in even the smallest of objects.