Egg cup 1747 - 1748

Michel II Delapierre crafted this silver egg cup, standing almost four inches tall, sometime in the 18th century. While seemingly a simple domestic object, the egg cup speaks volumes about the social and economic conditions of its time. Silverware, like this piece, was a marker of status and wealth in 18th-century France. The craftsmanship and material denote that this egg cup was likely made for and used by an aristocratic family, who had the means to afford such luxury items. Consider the socio-political context of the time. The 18th century was a period of great social inequality in France, with the aristocracy enjoying immense privilege while the majority of the population lived in poverty. Objects like this egg cup remind us of these disparities and offer a glimpse into the daily lives of the elite. To understand the significance of this egg cup further, one could delve into probate inventories, guild records, and other archival sources that document the production, trade, and consumption of silverware in 18th-century France.