Aspergetang met het wapen Clifford 1832

Curator: This meticulously crafted object is a silver asparagus server. Its official title is "Aspergetang met het wapen Clifford," made in 1832 by Fa. As. Bonebakker en Zoon. You can currently find it here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: My first thought? Elegance distilled. It's utilitarian, yet refined, almost sculptural. The stark silver against the background makes it pop. Is it just me, or does it feel simultaneously modern and historical? Curator: Indeed, there’s a fascinating dichotomy. Notice the rigorous geometry—parallel lines, precise angles, and how the maker articulates function. The corrugated grip emphasizes purpose. A wonderful study of form. Editor: Absolutely, I get the "form follows function" vibe, but it’s the way it elevates such a specific, mundane act—serving asparagus, no less! The very idea seems…fantastical. What even *is* asparagus privilege? Did the Cliffords commission this? Curator: Yes. The inclusion of the Clifford family crest elevates what might otherwise be a commonplace object into a marker of status and lineage. Semiotically, the crest signifies not merely ownership but a legacy of social standing. Editor: A silver sculpture to grasp some spears, huh? Kind of wild to think that in 1832 someone sat at a fancy table with that asparagus gripped with such precision in that little art object...makes you wonder what sort of chats filled the room? I wonder who still has the other items of the silverware set, you know? I would give this one a place of honor in my silverware chest; who doesn't want to extract some stems with dignity! Curator: What lingers for me is this piece’s simplicity. It reduces the server's essence down to absolute necessary forms. Here luxury meets rigid structure, providing both insight and the opportunity to look at silverware as art. Editor: Totally. Silverware can be so bourgeois; here it transcends the purely functional. It’s a bit cheeky. Anyway, thank you, asparagus tongs. We acknowledge you.