Sugar Tongs 1750 - 1760

Curator: Well, these sugar tongs are charming. They immediately strike me as incredibly delicate. Editor: I agree, they’re certainly finely crafted! These sugar tongs, likely fashioned by Thomas Skinner sometime between 1750 and 1760, give us insight into the material culture of that era. Curator: The choice of silver as the primary medium elevates these beyond mere utility. It’s a reflection of societal values and perhaps a demonstration of the owner's wealth, isn't it? Editor: Precisely. Consider the consumption habits they represent. Refined sugar was a luxury item at the time, think of how colonial trade practices intersect with personal habits, creating social status through material possessions. Curator: The tongs also force us to question how artisanal skills intersected with domestic practices. The silverwork suggests not only functionality but also a sort of ritualistic service surrounding commodities like tea or coffee. Editor: The act of delicately serving sugar became an almost theatrical event, reflecting larger conversations about taste and civility of eighteenth century elite social circles. Curator: Indeed, objects like this held social weight. Editor: By examining its physical attributes and context we expose social histories and power structures imbedded in even these ostensibly quotidian items. It also illuminates the evolution of decorative arts as they interact with changing social landscapes. Curator: The labor needed to both source silver and execute the detailed metalwork really highlights craft economies of the time. I would like to have held those! Editor: Definitely something to ponder as we reflect on its beauty and the society from which it emerged.