Miniature fireback 1715 - 1735

This miniature fireback was created by David Clayton in the late 17th or early 18th century. Made of silver, this object prompts us to consider domestic life and social status in the British colonial world. In this period, marked by burgeoning trade and expanding empires, silver objects like this one were not merely decorative, they signaled wealth, taste, and a connection to global networks of commerce. Clayton, as a silversmith, was deeply embedded in this economy. His work catered to a clientele that profited from and perpetuated this system. How might this object, functional in its design yet precious in its material, reflect the complex relationship between artistry, luxury, and the social hierarchies of the time? Its diminutive size perhaps indicates it was a child’s toy, intended to socialize future generations into the rituals of status and privilege. The fireback invites us to consider the stories of those whose labor and lives were impacted by the systems of wealth.