Dish 1893

This silver dish was created by George W. Shiebler & Co. sometime between 1876 and 1907. Shiebler was a prominent silversmith in New York City during the late 19th century, a period defined by rapid industrialization and burgeoning wealth in the United States. This dish, with its elegant form and shimmering surface, speaks to the Victorian era's obsession with ornamentation and display. Silverware like this was not merely functional, it was a symbol of status, reflecting the social aspirations of the wealthy class. Mass production enabled more people to acquire items that once were exclusive to the upper class. Yet, this accessibility obscures the labor and the complex social hierarchies embedded within the production and consumption of luxury goods. Consider the emotional weight of owning such an object, laden with the power of social identity, and the silent stories of those whose labor made it possible.