Sauskom van zilver 1764

Editor: Here we have a delightful example of Rococo silverwork. It's a sauce boat, or "Sauskom van zilver," crafted in 1764 by Valentijn Caspar Bömocke. The material richness and the fluid form seem so festive. What stands out to you in this piece? Curator: Well, first, the Rococo. It embodies pleasure, extravagance and dynamism that really speaks to a specific cultural moment. How does this relate to symbolism and the cultural narrative around dining and social ritual? Consider the shell-like fluting, those little paw feet… Editor: It does feel performative! Those little paw feet suggest animalistic power, don't they? Even in something so seemingly frivolous, it feels symbolic. Curator: Absolutely. Think about how foodways are an entry point into power structures. The serving vessels communicate wealth, yes, but what other kind of cultural information do they signal to the viewer? The use of silver is tied to purification, luxury, but it could suggest alchemy and transformation, too! Does the "sauce" elevate, conceal, or perhaps transform the food? What did these elaborate social rituals communicate to those excluded? Editor: It sounds like it was so much more than just pouring sauce! Now I’m imagining entire dramas unfolding at the table, encoded in these serving pieces. Curator: Precisely! And that is the lingering echo of visual culture that speaks volumes. Editor: Thanks for pointing that out – now I'll think differently about sauce boats and Rococo silver from now on. Curator: My pleasure. Seeing everyday objects infused with history makes you re-evaluate how you see objects today!