Tumbler Cup 1686 - 1687

Curator: At first glance, the piece presents a sense of utilitarian elegance. Editor: We’re looking at a silver tumbler cup, bearing the maker's mark TC in monogram. Measuring just 5 by 7.3 centimeters, it resides here at the Harvard Art Museums. Curator: Its form is deceivingly simple, yet its surface is alive with textural contrast. The geometric patterned middle and the repeated arches around the base are particularly striking when considering their social and symbolic function. Editor: Exactly. Tumblers like this weren't mere drinking vessels; they signaled a level of social standing, reflecting shifting cultural values around consumption and display within the early colonies. Curator: The materiality of silver speaks volumes about power and privilege, suggesting the owner’s access to resources and networks of trade within a colonial context. Editor: A small cup, yes, but a potent reminder of the intersectional forces that shaped early American life.