Evenveeltjespan 1768

This silver Evenveeltjespan was crafted by Pieter van Somerwil II. Here we have what appears to be a simple cooking pan. But look closer, and you’ll see this is more than mere utility. The pan is divided into four circular indentations – four little worlds contained within a single vessel. The circle, a symbol of unity, eternity, and cosmic wholeness, resonates through history, from the mandalas of Eastern philosophy to the round tables of medieval lore. Consider the egg. A symbol of birth, rebirth, and potential. From ancient cosmologies where the world emerges from a cosmic egg, to Christian art where it represents resurrection, the egg carries profound symbolic weight. This pan, designed to cook not just one but four eggs, amplifies this symbolism. It speaks to abundance, fertility, and the cyclical nature of life. We see the interplay between container and contained, the union of form and function, creating a potent visual metaphor.