Casserole with cover 1787 - 1788

This casserole with a cover was crafted by Jean-François-Nicolas Carron in the eighteenth century. Note the elaborate coat of arms etched onto its surface, a proud display of lineage and power. Such heraldic symbols are not merely decorative; they are potent emblems, vessels of collective memory. Consider how similar motifs appear on medieval shields and Renaissance tapestries. Each time, they serve as a visual shorthand for identity, authority, and belonging. The lion and other figures supporting the shield, archetypes of strength and guardianship, echo in countless forms across cultures. These symbols tap into our subconscious, evoking feelings of security, loyalty, and pride. The enduring presence of these motifs reminds us that even in the most functional objects, the past is always present. Symbols resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings, in an endless cycle.