Dish (one of a pair) 1726 - 1728

Curator: This Baroque silver dish, made by Jean-Baptiste I Buchet between 1726 and 1728, strikes me as a potent indicator of wealth and status in its time. It is on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Editor: Yes, it is a beautiful object, although maybe simpler than other decorative artworks of that time. What’s your perspective on the cultural or economic influences behind its creation? Curator: Considering it's a functional object elevated to an art form through precious material and craftsmanship, we can consider its place in the context of consumption during the period. The silver itself, where was it mined, who mined it? These questions lead us to consider colonial exploitation and trade networks central to creating such an object. And then, what foods were presented on it, what labour went into them? It challenges our usual definition of high art. Editor: That is so interesting, it puts a very different spin on what looks at first like simply a nice dish! Do you think the dish being Baroque has an impact in this? Curator: Absolutely. Baroque wasn't just about ornamentation; it was a theatrical display of power. This dish reflects how wealthy individuals used luxury items to assert their dominance. Even the production techniques themselves speak to a highly stratified labor system. The skill needed reflects specialist craft and labour conditions. Editor: So, we are not simply admiring the finished piece; we're also acknowledging the whole history of production, labor, and consumption embedded within it? Curator: Precisely. Looking at the object’s materials, we also engage with a crucial part of art history. Understanding what went into making it enriches our understanding. Editor: That's an approach I'll try to take when viewing other artwork, thinking more about the material context. Thank you!