Caster c. 1760 - 1770

This Caster was made by Zachariah Brigden, a silversmith active in London during the 18th century. A caster like this would have been used for sprinkling sugar or spices, signifying a household's wealth and taste. In the 1700s, global trade brought sugar to Europe, but at a huge cost. Sugar was a product of enslaved labor on Caribbean plantations, with immense profits accruing to traders and consumers in Europe and North America. Brigden's beautiful silver object is thus deeply implicated in the history of racial capitalism. Looking at the caster today, we must reflect on the intimate connection between luxury and exploitation. This object invites us to consider how we can challenge these legacies in our own time.