Two-handled cup 1769 - 1770

Here we have a two-handled cup, made in the mid-18th century, by the silversmith I.M. This piece exists within the historical context of colonial craftsmanship, where objects like these were not just functional, but also symbols of status and identity. Silver objects occupied a significant place in colonial society, reflecting the economic and social hierarchies of the time. Consider the labor, often invisibilized, that went into crafting and procuring the materials for such an object. The hands that mined the silver, the artisans who shaped it, and the households that displayed it – each played a role in the complex narrative of colonial America. The cup is more than a mere vessel. It embodies the interwoven narratives of identity, labor, and social status that were central to the colonial experience.