Holy-oil casket (Chrismatory) 1645 - 1685

This pewter holy-oil casket was probably made by F. L. DuFour around the late 17th or early 18th century. Notice the interplay of geometric forms, from the square base to the rounded top, culminating in the cross. This creates a hierarchy of shapes, each contributing to the object's overall sense of balance and order. The object's visual structure speaks to its function. The casket's design combines the earthly and the divine, using architectural forms to suggest stability and permanence. The cross, placed at the top, acts as a visual signifier of faith, contrasting with the casket's geometric lines and material substance. Consider how the material itself—pewter—lends a tactile dimension to the piece, inviting contemplation on the relationship between the physical and the spiritual. The casket's formal elements work together to create a vessel that is both aesthetically pleasing and deeply symbolic. Its enduring appeal resides in the ongoing dialogue between form and meaning.