Bobeche

Art Historical Context

Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing, *Bobeche* (1755–60) by Myer Myers exemplifies the artistry of colonial American silversmithing. Craft from gleaming silver, this bobeche—a decorative ring designed to encircle a candlestick and catch dripping wax—served both practical and ornamental purposes in 18th-century households., a master craftsman active in New York City, pieces like this for affluent patrons, blending functionality with elegance in the Rococo style popular at the time. Myers, one of colonial America's foremost silversmiths and a member of New York's Jewish community, honed his skills through European training influences, creating objects that rivaled imported English and Dutch silver. His techniques likely included chasing and repoussé—hammering designs into the metal from the reverse—to achieve intricate motifs of scrolls, shells, or florals, though specifics for this piece highlight his signature precision and lightness. Acquired through the Sansbury-Mills Fund in 1977, this bobeche underscores the cultural sophistication of pre-Revolutionary America, where silverware symbolized status and hospitality. It invites us to imagine candlelit dinners in bustling port cities, preserving a tangible link to the era's craftsmanship and daily life.