Sugar bowl 1745 - 1755

This silver sugar bowl was crafted by John Moore sometime between 1724 and 1767, a period when the aesthetics of luxury served to reinforce social hierarchies. Reflect on the potent symbolism of sugar, transforming from a rare delicacy to a commodity that fueled the transatlantic slave trade. This bowl, an object of refined beauty, belies the brutal labor and exploitation required for its existence. The very act of consuming sugar became entangled with power dynamics, and colonial expansion. Consider the elaborate ornamentation, the lion paw feet, and the engraved coat of arms: all signifiers of wealth and status. How does this bowl challenge or reinforce traditional representations of wealth and privilege? Does it invite us to consider alternative narratives of consumption and value? Ultimately, this sugar bowl embodies the complex interplay between beauty, power, and the uncomfortable realities of history.