Salver (piring) 1729

This silver salver was made by Jan van Cloon and would have been used for serving food or drink. The inscription within the wreath suggests this was a presentation piece. Silverware like this was common among the wealthy merchant classes, especially in places like the Netherlands, from which van Cloon hailed. The material itself denotes wealth and status, but more than this, the act of commissioning such an object speaks to the way that art served as a symbol of social standing. When we look at an artwork such as this, it's important to ask what its role was in the social life of its time. How did it function as a marker of identity, or as a means of communication between different social groups? In answering these questions, we draw on a range of historical sources, from inventories and account books to etiquette manuals and sumptuary laws. These resources help us to understand the complex ways in which art is embedded in social and institutional contexts.