Pair of Casters 1717 - 1718

Editor: Here we see a "Pair of Casters" made by David King, sometime before his death in 1738. They're silver, and quite striking. What stands out to you about these objects? Curator: The real interest lies in understanding their production. Consider the labor involved in meticulously crafting these silver forms. Think about the silversmith's workshop, the social structures enabling such luxury goods, and the consumption they represent. Editor: So you're more interested in how they came to be, rather than what they are? Curator: Precisely. The materiality, the social context of production and use. These castors speak volumes about the colonial economy and the consumer culture of the time. What did people use them for, and who got to use them? Editor: That's a very different lens than I expected, but it definitely gives me a lot to think about. Curator: Indeed. It pushes us to consider art beyond mere aesthetics.