Footed salver c. 1717

This footed salver was crafted by Gabriel Sleath, a London-based silversmith active in the first half of the 18th century. It is made of silver. The material itself speaks volumes: silver was associated with wealth and status. To form a salver like this, the silversmith would have used techniques like hammering, annealing, and polishing. Each of these steps requires tremendous skill. The silversmith’s hand shapes the metal, imbuing it with both aesthetic and cultural value. The bright sheen of the silver is a visual manifestation of this labor. Objects like these reflect not just artistic talent, but also the larger economics of labor and consumption. It is a luxury object, made for a society in which display and social ritual were paramount. Understanding its making, we appreciate how its aesthetic is inextricably tied to these wider social issues. The salver bridges the divide between fine art and functional object, asking us to consider the artistry inherent in everyday life.