Sellett c. 1900

Curator: What strikes me first is the elegance. Editor: Me too, it almost floats despite being grounded. I’d like to introduce everyone to "Sellett", crafted around 1900, a remarkable piece from the hand of Léon Bénouville. It is currently housed here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Constructed using wood, glass, and brass, this decorative sculpture beautifully exemplifies the Art Nouveau movement from France. Curator: You can certainly see that connection through its naturalistic, curvilinear forms and subtle asymmetries. The slender, slightly bowed legs and the delicate brass work—there’s an organic quality that pulls from nature, almost plant-like. The glass case almost feels like a vessel for containing something precious. Editor: A preciousness that perhaps alludes to the societal constructs around display during this period. This case isn't merely functional; it also tells a tale of access, privilege, and curated presentation, reminiscent of class disparities when considering objects for display and the idea of taste-making itself during this era. Curator: I appreciate your analysis! And, in keeping with the aesthetics of the period, this particular style has a rich symbolic past as a talisman, an emblem of elegance and exclusivity, very much in the manner of private collections then available for view only to some individuals and later popularized in international fairs or world expos of the day. Editor: How true, these objects embodied the rise of a culture in tandem with growing commercialism, colonialism, and notions of modernism in France. It invites dialogue about how certain narratives have been both elevated and silenced within dominant historical frameworks. Curator: Absolutely! Editor: Well, my perspectives aside, “Sellett” as an artwork opens rich and diverse cultural and historical dialogues for consideration today. Curator: Indeed, such craftsmanship still resonates with an aura of refinement today.