The Francis Skerry Beaker c. 1670

Editor: This is Jeremiah Dummer's silver "Francis Skerry Beaker." I'm struck by the texture of the silver. What can you tell me about the process of its creation? Curator: The beaker speaks to the material conditions of early American artistry. Consider the labor involved in hammering and shaping the silver, likely sourced and traded within colonial networks. Dummer, as a silversmith, was both artisan and entrepreneur, navigating the economic landscape of his time. Editor: So it is not just about aesthetics, but about labor and the economy? Curator: Precisely! The beaker challenges notions of "high art." Its value lies not only in its form but in the material processes and the social context of its creation and consumption. Consider the inscription, "The gift of Francis Skerry to the church in Salem." What does that tell us about use and ownership? Editor: That gives me a whole new perspective. Thank you. Curator: Indeed, considering the socio-economic history changes our view of this object.