Pair of sponge boxes 1775

Editor: Okay, next up we have what's called "Pair of sponge boxes," dating back to 1775, crafted by Claude-Pierre Deville. They're silver, so small but quite weighty, and the intricate floral design gives them this fancy, delicate feel. Honestly, they remind me of little bejeweled eggs. What stands out to you when you look at them? Curator: Bejeweled eggs – I adore that! For me, it's about thinking beyond their practical function. They were beautiful objects that were there as little gestures that signified an aesthetic life. Do you get that, beyond the sponge part of it? I mean, who wants a gorgeous sponge box now? Unless, perhaps... for art sponges! Editor: So, it's almost about the *idea* of luxury, of even mundane items having artistic value? Curator: Precisely. And the Rococo style! Think powdered wigs, extravagant balls... a world obsessed with ornament. It's a counterpoint to our world, which has different rules. If one did this kind of adornment today one would have to ask what you're doing, why, what does it mean…it is more reflective… more… loaded. Whereas back then, it simply meant *this is it*. Editor: I guess context really changes everything. Today this level of ornamentation would probably be a political statement. It’s interesting to imagine the boxes embodying such different meanings through time. Curator: Indeed. They ask more of *us* than the folks at the time I imagine. These ornate silver balls once quietly served a purpose, they're now prompting an inner dialogue, like secret portals to another dimension!