Oval box with cover 1749 - 1751

Gottlieb Satzger, a German goldsmith, created this gilded silver oval box, sometime in the 18th century. It’s an exquisite example of Baroque metalwork. Pieces like this tell us a great deal about the society that produced them. In the 1700s, silver and gold weren't just valuable for their material worth; they were potent symbols of status and power. Crafting such objects demanded immense skill and time, effectively making them luxury commodities accessible only to the aristocracy or the wealthy merchant class. Satzger likely worked within a guild system, which controlled the standards of craftsmanship and the training of artisans. The fact that his work survives in a museum today is itself a testament to the enduring appeal, and art historical value, of such finely crafted objects. To truly understand this box, we’d want to know more about its original owner and the role it played in their daily life. Perhaps it held precious keepsakes or was part of a larger collection displayed to impress visitors. Investigating estate inventories, letters, and other archival materials could reveal more about the social life of this object.