Bell c. 1725

Curator: Here we have a silver bell, dating back to the 18th century, created by the silversmith James Gould. It's located at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The first thing that strikes me is the intricate detail, especially the lattice pattern on the handle and those swirling monograms. It speaks of a very particular kind of labor. Curator: Indeed. Gould was part of a network of artisans catering to a growing merchant class. These objects were not just functional, but markers of status, emblems of colonial aspiration. Editor: Absolutely. And the bell itself represents a form of control. Who was being summoned? Who was doing the ringing? The material belies a power dynamic. Curator: Precisely. Its display today raises interesting questions about the legacy of wealth and labor embedded within our cultural institutions. Editor: It encourages us to consider the unseen hands that shaped its creation and purpose. Curator: A small object with a big story. Editor: Definitely something to reflect on as we move on.