Tureen 1794 - 1814

Curator: Oh my. That gleams like a fantasy. Like King Midas threw up and a sculptor caught it all. Editor: Indeed! What catches your eye so immediately about this ornate Tureen, circa 1794-1814, possibly crafted by Charles Percier, aside from the overwhelming gold hue? Curator: That cherub casually riding a bird like it's the bus! There's an arrogance about it, a playful self-importance captured so well in miniature on this impractical thing that is only good to serve soups. Tell me everything! Editor: The piece embodies the Neoclassical style popular then, where luxury was interwoven with allegory. Consider those griffins that stand out. Curator: Oh yes. Mythical guardians. But aren't griffins supposed to be scary? These ones are pure ornamentation. Look at the details on the feet; it’s like nothing is allowed to simply… be. Editor: Exactly! The symbols are layered; each chosen for its potent visual message. The silver and bronze used here lend themselves to capturing the light so that the Tureen feels almost otherworldly. These figures signify protection, while suggesting cultural wealth. Curator: Like visual code, almost… like sending a very elaborate, very gold, telegram! One wonders what conversations happened over it when filled with, I don’t know… turtle soup? And if they even noticed how completely ridiculous this vessel is? Editor: I see the vessel not merely as dining ware, but as a statement on civilization, order, and, well, aspiration. These forms become enduring motifs to remind viewers of a potent historical, even mythical, vision. Curator: Still... All I can picture is somebody accidentally dropping that absurdly small spoon into the soup with a terribly loud CLANG, disrupting an ambassador’s terribly long winded statement. Editor: (chuckles) Perhaps. Although, the sound it makes probably would be divine, knowing the artistry used in creating such piece. The Tureen continues to tell a silent story, doesn’t it? Curator: Silent, glittering and slightly deafening… But yeah! Absolutely. We got a peek into the symbols but still get the freedom to imagine who they served, where, and if any scandals ever were cooked along the turtle soup! Editor: And there we can find all our unique meanings… It can also be where our individual response is formed!