Degen met zilveren gevest 1750 - 1775

Editor: This is "Degen met zilveren gevest," a sword with a silver hilt made between 1750 and 1775 by Jean Hosse. It's currently at the Rijksmuseum. I'm immediately drawn to the contrast between the dull blade and the ornate, gleaming silver hilt. What stands out to you? Curator: What's striking is the sharp division of labor inherent in an object like this. A skilled artisan—likely multiple artisans—forged the functional blade from metal. Then other craftspeople worked the silver, shaping the hilt into something ornamental, almost obscuring its use-value. This contrast asks us to consider the economics and hierarchy involved in its production. Editor: So, you're saying it’s not just about beauty, but about who made what and how? Curator: Exactly! The blade represents utility, raw materials, and possibly a more ‘common’ labor. The silver speaks to luxury, status, and specialized craftsmanship. Think about where the raw materials come from. Mining, transportation, and trade networks. It represents a complex web of resources and exploited labor. The silver suggests wealth, perhaps accumulated through colonialism. Editor: Colonialism? How so? Curator: Silver was a highly prized commodity during the 18th century, much of which was extracted from mines in the Americas, often through forced labor. This sword becomes less an individual object of art and more an emblem of global resource extraction and power dynamics. It represents not only skill and artistry, but material exploitation. What do you make of that in terms of Baroque art? Editor: Wow, that's a really interesting take. I guess I never thought about a sword reflecting all that. Seeing how intertwined raw materials and artistic craftsmanship were in this historical context gives the Baroque style new resonance. It seems less about beauty for its own sake, and more a display of control over the material world. Curator: Precisely.