Beaker (one of a pair) 1728 - 1729

This silver beaker, one of a pair, was crafted by Jacques Filassier. Its surface reflects light with a lustrous gleam, structured with a smooth upper section and a richly textured lower half, separated by a band featuring portrait medallions. Filassier employs a visual language deeply rooted in the aesthetic and philosophical currents of his time. The beaker’s form, with its clear, geometric progression from base to rim, speaks of Enlightenment ideals of order and reason. The textured lower portion, with its stylized floral motifs, might be interpreted as signs that allude to a Neoclassical revival, referencing classical forms. Each element is deliberately placed to guide the eye and structure the reading of the object. Notice how the upper portion, punctuated by portrait medallions, offers a semiotic interplay between public image and private use. The polished silver and its careful articulation into structured forms invite us to consider how objects like this participated in shaping cultural values.