Chocolatière (chocolate pot) c. 1900

Lucien Bonvallet crafted this silver chocolate pot, or Chocolatière, likely in the late 19th or early 20th century. The eye is immediately drawn to its sleek, reflective surface, subtly adorned with organic motifs and a contrasting handle. The pot's design embodies the Art Nouveau style, evident in the sinuous lines and stylized floral patterns that gently interrupt the smooth metal. These motifs function as signs, referencing nature and growth, yet they are abstracted, creating a sophisticated visual rhythm. The handle, with its contrasting colour and curvature, serves as a focal point, challenging the uniformity of the silver body. This juxtaposition highlights the piece's engagement with the semiotic play between art and nature. It invites us to consider how decorative arts can destabilize the boundary between the functional and the aesthetic, the natural and the artificial.