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American Studies

In the mid-eighteenth century, silversmith or goldsmith ranked the top of the hierarchy of

artisans. Most of the designs in their work reflected European styles more than any other

decorative arts of the time. The artworks such as the Hurd’s cup were used for different purposes

similar to other gold and silver objects. Some of the objects were used to establish a social status

determined principally by wealth and other material possessions. The two-handled cups made by

Hurd were popular in all colonies until the end of the century.

The object is a two-handled silver cup with an additional cover. The cup is a masterpiece

of the Boston silver that was made by Jacob Hurd in 1740. Jacob Hurd was Boston’s most

exceptional and creative silversmith of the mid-eighteenth century. History has it that the cup

was made for merchant John Rowe owing to the presence of his court of arms. The cup shows

some modifications likely to have been made later on the sides. Under normal circumstances, the

bishop in holding drinks such as wine, or fruits such as lemons and oranges used one of the two-

handled cups. In some cases, the cup was used in carrying sugar mixed with mulled and spiced

port wine. The Bostonians also used one of the cups as a reward for sea captains after heroic

military operations (Copley and Carrie 211).

There were three two-handled similar cups made by Jacob Hurd. This is one of the cups

made and placed in the museum of fine arts in Boston, Massachusetts. Another cup “Comet

Bomb” exhibited in Marks of Achievement and finally the Tyng Cup of Yale. According to

history, the merchants of Boston as rewards for the victory and capture of the French privateers

presented the Tyng Cup and the Comet Bomb in 1744. Hurd received many commissions for

staging pieces, and his shop employed skilled journeymen and specialist tuners, chasers, and

engravers to produce the masterpiece cups (Copley and Carrie 211).

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According to the history surrounding the existence of the cup and the silversmith, the

people of this generation were one and the same. The people embraced artwork that created

different objects for different uses. The silversmiths made vessels for food and drink, jewels to

keep up with fashion among other items for general use. Other items made for the people

included silver buttons and belt buckles, communion silver and baptismal basins. The individuals

in the community appreciated classic artwork done by the silversmiths. To show togetherness in

the community, Hurd received many commissions for presentation pieces in his shop as part of

appreciation for his good work.

The materials used by the silversmiths originated from coins and out-of-fashion broken

articles. From these materials, the Smiths made new objects. After collecting all the available

coins and broken objects, the silversmiths melted it down and refined the content. The smelting

helped them to produce quality content before creating their objects of choice. The Smiths also

added copper to the silver content to make it stronger and harder. The copper originated

primarily from coins. The proportion of silver to copper used determined the quality of the metal

to be used in making the new objects. The silver and gold arrived in the colonies through illegal

trade conducted between Central and South America. The ships plying these routes contained

bullion and coins. Some of the metals were lost to pirates who traded them with other willing

buyers. The pirates of Madagascar and New York were known to be the most notorious in the

trade. The sources of the metals and other materials used in the art show strained relations of

power. This is because the trade was carried across colonies. Therefore, most of the sources of

the metal were under colonialists who took advantage of their military power to obtain the

materials and transport them to their home countries. Besides, the silversmiths played a crucial

role in the colonial society through fashioning of luxury items and objects back into negotiable

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silver and gold. They also played the role of bankers and provided other financial needs to their

communities (Copley and Carrie 214).

The illegal trade was rampant between Central, South America, Africa, and West Indies.

The popular culture between these communities was defined by lawlessness and greed. The

pirates belonged to different communities and sought to obtain wealth illegally by stealing

cargoes from their enemy privateers and other legal traders. According to the value of money

that exchanged hands during this trades, it is evident that the industry was highly profitable.

Another aspect of the era’s culture was described by business operations. The communities in the

period were business-oriented with numerous ventures to create wealth. They worked with

metals and coins that entered their territories through the legal and illegal trade.

The early America and its people have been portrayed as adventurous people depending

on the region they originated. The people in New York were business-oriented and practiced

piracy and illegal trade across the ocean routes. The silversmiths in Boston were involved in the

monetary system even after the paper money was introduced. The America ports and the people

who operated from them engaged mostly in illegal business with other pirates from East Indies

and other parts of Europe.

The history of artifacts is directly related to men. The gender of most sculptors and silver

and goldsmiths was male. The race was mixed up because the people mingled during the colonial

rules, through trade and intermarriages. Therefore, there was no any distinct race involved in the

creation of the artifacts such as the Hurd’s two-handled cup. The Hurd’s cup clearly represents

the museum’s mission to work towards obtaining all the lost artifacts that hold historical

meanings and people can easily identify with them. Also, the museum would also seek to display

more than half of the surviving silver made by members of Hurd’s generation. More than five

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hundred of his works survive today. Despite his abilities, Hurd went bankrupt in 1755 and died a

few years later.

During Hurd’s time, silversmith, or Goldsmith was ranked the top of the hierarchy of

artisans. The object of our discussion was a two-handled silver cup with an additional cover. The

cup is a masterpiece of the Boston silver that was made by Jacob Hurd in 1740. There were three

two-handled similar cups made by Jacob Hurd that is now displayed in separately. The materials

used by the silversmiths originated from coins and out-of-fashion broken articles and were used

by the smiths to make new objects. The illegal trade was rampant between Central, South

America, Africa, and West Indies where the majority of the metal and coins were used in the

trade.

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Work Cited

Copley, John S, and Carrie Rebora. John Singleton Copley in America: New York, 1996. Print.

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