Canister (one of three) 1704 - 1706

Edward Workman, a silversmith, made this silver canister sometime between the late 17th and early 18th century. A decorative object for the storing of sugar, the canister indexes a shift in the meaning of luxury. Sugar had originally been used as a medicine, but as Europeans colonized the Americas, sugar production became a brutal business. With this canister, we see how an aristocratic family expressed wealth and taste. It's a status object that is also a direct product of colonial exploitation. Notice the family crest near the base, declaring the importance of lineage and social standing in a changing world, where wealth was becoming more accessible. Historians analyze objects like this by studying the archival records of merchants and trade companies. Researching the history of objects enables us to understand the social conditions that allow certain artworks to be made and appreciated.