Set of Two Mazarines 1812 - 1813

Curator: Here we have a "Set of Two Mazarines" by Thomas Robins, currently housed in the Harvard Art Museums. The dimensions are roughly 4.5 by 40 by 30 centimeters. Editor: My eye is immediately drawn to the smaller one. Its delicate pierced design around the edges gives it an almost ethereal quality. Curator: These objects played a crucial role in the rituals of dining among the elite. They were designed to drain liquid from fish, showcasing both wealth and refinement. Editor: The repetition of that pierced motif evokes lace, or even the patterns in frost. Given its function with food, is it a reference to bounty, or purification? Curator: Likely both. Consider how displaying silver signaled status and the control over resources in the household. The pierced design served a functional and symbolic purpose. Editor: It’s interesting to consider how objects like these participate in the performance of class and taste. Curator: Precisely. Reflecting on these mazarines allows us a glimpse into the complex interplay of power, display, and dining culture. Editor: I’m left pondering the silent stories of abundance, tradition and taste encoded in these gleaming surfaces.