Saltcellar (one of a pair) 1535 - 1550

This saltcellar was made by Pierre Reymond, a master of painted enamel, in sixteenth-century Limoges, France. During the Renaissance, such exquisite objects spoke to the cultural aspirations of the elite. The imagery, rendered in enamel on copper, draws from classical antiquity. The figures are athletic and idealized, the narratives heroic. This object was designed for the dinner tables of people keen to associate themselves with the glory of ancient Greece and Rome. But let’s pause and think about salt. A necessary component of life, it was also a highly valued commodity and signifier of social standing. To possess such a lavish vessel speaks volumes about the owner’s wealth and taste. Consider how this little object encapsulates the complex interplay of power, artistry, and consumption in the Renaissance, inviting us to reflect on the emotional and social investments we place in everyday objects.