Coffee service 1773

This silver coffee service was crafted by Johan Henrik Blom, likely sometime in the late 18th century. It serves as a potent reminder that even the most seemingly innocuous objects can be read for the cultural meanings they carry. Coffee, by this time, had become the drink of enlightened society, and coffee houses the place to debate the issues of the day. Silver, of course, was a signifier of wealth and status. Blom’s design incorporates rococo floral motifs and miniature portraits, signalling the owner's refined tastes. This was a culture which valued luxury goods and displayed them as markers of social distinction. These objects speak volumes about the priorities of 18th-century society. By consulting historical sources and records, we can develop a richer understanding of what the art of the past meant to those who created and enjoyed it.