Miniature chocolate pot 1715 - 1735

This miniature chocolate pot was made by David Clayton, a silversmith active in London during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. At this time, chocolate was an expensive import from the Americas, enjoyed primarily by the wealthy European elite. This piece reflects the intersection of global trade, colonialism, and the intimate rituals of daily life among the privileged. The diminutive scale and the precious materials—silver and wood—speak to a culture of refinement and conspicuous consumption. The dark history of chocolate production, rooted in the exploitation of Indigenous labor in the Americas, is not immediately visible, yet inseparable from the enjoyment of this luxury item. The chocolate pot invites us to reflect on the relationship between pleasure, privilege, and the hidden costs of global commerce.