Stand and Lamp 1710 - 1711

Curator: Here we have what's known as "Stand and Lamp," crafted by Seth Lofthouse. It's currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's giving Lilliputian banquet vibes. Tiny silver supports, an ornate little bowl... a domestic scene distilled into precious metal. Curator: Indeed. Created sometime around the turn of the 18th century, this stand and lamp is made of silver and what appears to be wood. It hints at the rituals of tea and coffee service that were gaining prominence. Editor: Tea, coffee, or maybe even something a little stronger. This object speaks to privilege and the control of global trade routes, doesn't it? The silver's gleam, the lamp's warmth—comfort earned through exploitation. Curator: A somber assessment, perhaps, but not inaccurate given the colonial contexts. I find myself drawn to the details. The way light plays across the silver... almost like liquid mercury. Editor: And consider who likely held this object. A woman of means, presiding over a domestic realm built upon a foundation of inequality. The lamp illuminates not just a table but a system. Curator: So, the Stand and Lamp—a miniature world reflecting larger societal currents. A humble object imbued with complex narratives. Editor: Exactly. A luxury item revealing uncomfortable truths.