Sheath

Art Historical Context

Nestled in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing, *Sheath* is a crafted silver object attributed to Edward Winslow, a prominent Boston silversmith active in the late 17th and early 18th. Dating to the 1700–1800 period, this piece exemplifies the exquisite metalwork of colonial America, where silver served as a symbol of wealth, status, and craftsmanship among the elite. Winslow, whose family had deep roots in early New England, mastered techniques like chasing, repoussé, and engraving, creating functional yet elegant items for everyday use and display. As a sheath—likely for a knife ...