Tray 1744 - 1745

This silver tray was crafted by Pierre Hugé, a master silversmith, during the height of the French Rococo period. The 18th century was a time of immense social stratification, and objects like this tray were potent symbols of wealth and status. Consider for a moment the hands that this tray has passed through. Each owner would have been part of an elite class, benefiting from systems of labor and trade that often exploited others. The silver itself likely came from mines in the Americas, extracted by enslaved indigenous populations or imported. In a way, this tray embodies the complex relationship between luxury, labor, and identity. It speaks to the power dynamics inherent in a society where such exquisite objects were reserved for a privileged few. It also reflects the complex global networks of trade and extraction that defined the era. Look closely and consider what stories it holds and the lives it touched.