Box 1779 - 1780

This box was crafted by Claude-François Thierry, likely in Paris, during the late 18th or early 19th century. It’s made of gold and silver, materials valued for their beauty, durability, and status association. The box's surface is finely decorated, with engraved patterns and delicate chasing work, techniques demanding specialized tools, and the hand skills of a goldsmith. The box shows not only the artist's creative labor, but also the material and social value that are loaded into it. Precious metals like gold and silver were often linked to elite patronage, and conspicuous consumption. This is not "art for art's sake." Instead, we see a direct link between the refined aesthetics of the box and the social context of its time. By focusing on these elements, we can look beyond the surface and towards the dense layering of making, value, and taste.