Broth bowl with cover (écuelle) 1749 - 1750

Editor: So, this exquisite object is a silver broth bowl with a cover, or "écuelle," crafted around 1749-1750 by Pierre-Henry Chéret. It just screams opulence, doesn't it? The intricate detail is incredible! What strikes you most about it? Curator: The gleam first, naturally! But beyond the shiny surface lies an object singing stories. Imagine the hands that crafted this! It wasn't just skill, it was love. Look closely; you’ll see Baroque elegance tipping its hat to Rococo's playful curves, right? The silver is almost alive. Do you think that the reflective material affects how we see this piece? Editor: Definitely. The reflections add to the richness, making it almost ethereal. So, it's moving between styles… how would this broth bowl have been used? Curator: Ah, imagine a grand table, candles flickering, and this bowl gracing the center. Broth wasn't just food, it was theatre, darling! Served to convalescing nobles… power itself imbibed in silver. See those handles? Shaped like stylized leaves! And the lid's finial like a blooming bud! Pure fantasy made real. Who wouldn't want to have that setting for dinner? Editor: That puts the ornamentation into perspective! This bowl isn't just functional; it’s making a statement. I initially saw just prettiness, but now it feels like a whole world. Curator: Precisely! And what's art for, if not to whisk us away to another realm, another way of feeling? Editor: Well, I certainly won't look at fancy silverware the same way again! Curator: And darling, never should. Art is everywhere, waiting to be tasted, felt, loved and of course understood!