Seven Designs for Vases and Table Silver 1700 - 1800

Editor: Here we have "Seven Designs for Vases and Table Silver," dating from between 1700 and 1800. It’s an anonymous drawing that’s held at the Met. They look so incredibly ornate. I'm wondering what all of that detail meant to the people commissioning these objects at that time? What do you see in this piece from your perspective? Curator: From my viewpoint as an historian, it’s essential to see this drawing within the social fabric of its time. The Baroque style reflected here wasn’t merely aesthetic; it was intrinsically linked to power. Who were the intended patrons of such extravagant silver? Editor: Presumably the aristocracy? Curator: Exactly. Think about the culture and period – royalty, wealthy merchants – this was during an age of absolutism. These elaborate designs communicated prestige. Owning silver wasn't just practical, it was a performative act of displaying social standing. Do you think that this level of detail had any kind of role in creating and enforcing class distinctions at the time? Editor: I hadn't thought of it that way before, but I can see how having intricate, custom-made pieces that most people could never afford could have visually reinforced those differences. Curator: Precisely! Moreover, consider how museums and collections today still exhibit pieces like these. What message does displaying these objects send today about wealth, history, and the role of the museum itself? Editor: It makes you wonder what will be thought about our own ways of displaying wealth in the future, doesn't it? Thanks! Curator: Indeed. Examining the context around the design and its display helps us see past just beauty, allowing for exploration of power. Thanks for raising such perceptive questions!