Miniature wine taster 1670 - 1675

This diminutive wine taster of unknown date was crafted in silver by an artisan known only as W. M. Wine tasters like this one were important tools in the culture of winemaking and trade, crucial for evaluating the quality and character of wines before purchase or consumption. This small bowl is equipped with handles for easy handling, and the silver material doesn't affect the wine's color and clarity. The decoration, featuring simple floral motifs and dotted patterns, gives an indication of the aesthetic values of its time. Objects like this don't exist in a vacuum. We must consider the economic and social conditions that allowed for specialized crafts like silversmithing to flourish, and the rituals around wine that made such tasters necessary. By exploring trade records, social histories, and the material culture of the period, we can start to reconstruct the world in which this wine taster played a role.