Pair of Double-lipped Sauceboats 1728 - 1729

Curator: We’re looking at a pair of double-lipped sauceboats made by John Chartier. Editor: They’re beautiful. The reflective surface gives them an almost ethereal glow. Curator: Chartier was born in 1697 and died in 1715. Silver objects like these functioned not only as functional dining ware but also as signifiers of social standing. Editor: Yes, the labor involved! The raising, the hammering, the polishing—each step performed by skilled hands shaping raw material. Curator: Consider, too, the context in which these were used. The elaborate sauces, the presentation…it speaks to a whole system of social performance. Editor: It's easy to forget the raw origins, to think of silver as inherently refined, but it comes from the earth, transformed through intensive labor. Curator: Absolutely. And when we examine the silver through an intersectional lens, we gain insight into systems of power, labor, and consumption. Editor: Looking at them this way helps us appreciate the full weight of their presence, beyond simple admiration. Curator: Exactly, there is so much more to consider when we are looking at pieces such as these.