Small oval box with cover (one of a pair) 1755 - 1757

This delicate silver box was crafted in Augsburg, Germany, by Johann Martin Satzger the first, sometime in the 18th century. Its intimate scale invites a close look at the material, and the way it has been worked. Silver, with its soft sheen, has been carefully fashioned into a complex form. Notice the rounded lid, richly decorated with swirling vegetal motifs, echoed on the body of the box below. These details weren’t simply applied to the surface; they were painstakingly chased and engraved by a highly skilled silversmith. Consider the social context: Augsburg was a major center for luxury goods, and silver objects like this one were prized possessions, symbols of wealth and status. But behind their polished surfaces lie the hands of countless artisans. Satzger was certainly a master, but he also depended on a network of less celebrated specialists to bring his vision to life. So, next time you encounter an object like this, remember that it represents not only artistic skill, but also the complex social relations of production.