Mustard pot 1778 - 1779

This Mustard Pot was made in Paris by Guillaume-François Rolland, sometime in the late 18th century. Silver, like any metal, is a material that demands incredible skill. Think about the processes involved: melting, shaping, and chasing the metal into these elegant, curving forms. It required an expert understanding of metallurgy, and an ability to control the material. The silversmith would have been highly trained, probably through a formal apprenticeship. He would’ve used specialized tools to create the intricate details that you see here, raising the pot from a flat sheet of silver, and then adding the cast handle and lid. Objects like this speak volumes about social class. This mustard pot reflects an era of luxury and refinement, and was obviously intended for the table of someone wealthy. Appreciating the remarkable skill that went into it encourages us to consider the labor and social context behind such intricate pieces of functional art.