Snuffbox 1732 - 1738

Editor: This gilded brass snuffbox, dating back to the 1730s, is credited to Daniel Govaers. The baroque ornamentation feels excessive yet captivating. I'm struck by how the choice of metal impacts its sense of value and purpose. What can you tell me about this ornate container? Curator: I see this snuffbox primarily as an object born from and defined by the era's complex systems of labor and consumption. Gold and brass, the materials, aren't merely aesthetic choices. Consider the mining, the smelting, the highly skilled craftsmanship required. Where did these raw materials originate, and who were the individuals involved in transforming them into this status symbol? Editor: So, you're suggesting its value comes less from artistic merit and more from the social relations it embodies? Curator: Exactly. A seemingly simple object becomes a potent symbol. Baroque art often blurs the lines between "high art" and mere decoration. The meticulous detail and extravagance served a social purpose: it displayed the wealth and taste of its owner. Snuff taking itself was a ritual performed by the elite, further embedding this box within social hierarchies. How does knowing that shift your perspective? Editor: It really does change how I view it. The elaborate details suddenly seem less about artistry and more about demonstrating social position. The material itself speaks of labor exploitation as part of aristocratic life. I suppose that explains why it looks so utterly confident and commanding. Curator: Precisely. The value lies not in the isolated "artistic genius," but within a whole history of material processes, skilled labor, and social performance. Thinking about the materials first opens up an avenue into seeing what kind of historical narrative comes into being by way of it. Editor: That's fascinating. I'll definitely be paying more attention to materials and production processes going forward! Curator: Excellent. Recognizing the social life of materials is the first step in understanding a whole new way of seeing art.