Caudle Cup c. 1690

Editor: Here we have a silver Caudle Cup, created around 1690 by Jeremiah Dummer. It has these elaborate handles, and the whole thing has a kind of hammered texture. What strikes me most is its restrained elegance; it's beautiful without being overly ostentatious. What do you see when you look at this piece? Curator: I see a complex interplay of status, function, and evolving social norms. This cup wasn't merely decorative; it was functional. "Caudle" refers to a warm drink, often alcoholic and spiced, given to the sick or to new mothers. It becomes fascinating when we consider the gendered context. Editor: Gendered context? Curator: Yes. The caudle cup highlights the domestic sphere, typically associated with women in the late 17th century. Owning such a piece signified not only wealth, but also the ability to perform, and adhere to, certain social rituals around caregiving and domesticity. Who could afford such care and display of it? Whose bodies and roles were being centered? Think of it as a material manifestation of power dynamics within the household and within society at large. Notice also the monogram— a claim of ownership and lineage. Editor: So, it's less about the drink itself and more about what the cup represents. Curator: Precisely! And it makes you think about labor and who benefits. It asks us to reflect on the historical relationship between wealth, gender roles, and the performance of domesticity, aspects still resonating today. Editor: That's a completely different way to look at something like a cup. I’ll never see silver the same way again! Curator: Indeed, seeing art as a product of its time and a reflection of social forces can be transformative.