Pepper Box 1720 - 1740

This silver pepper box was crafted by William Pollard, a silversmith active in London during the late 17th and early 18th centuries, a period marked by significant social stratification and colonial expansion. The box is an intimate object, reflective of the wealth and taste of its owner. Consider how the spice trade, of which pepper was a central commodity, was deeply entwined with the history of colonialism and exploitation. To possess such an item was to participate, whether consciously or not, in a global network of power and extraction. Its presence on a table would have subtly reinforced social hierarchies. The box invites us to consider the historical and ethical implications of everyday objects and their connection to broader social and economic structures.