Wine taster 1763 - 1764

This wine taster was crafted by Pierre Antoine Viaucourt sometime in the 18th century, and it's a marvelous example of functional art. The first thing that strikes you is its simple, elegant form: a shallow, rounded bowl flowing seamlessly into an intricately designed handle. The handle is where Viaucourt’s craftsmanship truly shines. It’s not just a grip; it’s a sculptural element with a tactile, serpentine twist. Note how the contrast between the smooth, polished surface of the bowl and the textured complexity of the handle invites a dialogue between simplicity and ornamentation. The marks stamped on the bowl's side, almost like a secret code, also warrant attention. They break the smooth surface of the bowl. They invite us to consider the object not merely as a tool, but as a signifier of status, taste, and perhaps even hidden meanings encoded in the language of its time. The wine taster, therefore, invites us to question the boundaries between form and function.