Tureen with cover 1745 - 1775

Editor: This elegant ceramic piece, a "Tureen with cover", comes to us from the Veuve Perrin Factory, dated sometime between 1745 and 1775. The floral designs have this lovely asymmetrical balance, which gives the piece a sense of playful refinement. I’m curious, what do you see when you look at this work? Curator: I see a reflection of 18th-century power structures expressed through dining culture. Elaborate tureens like these weren't just functional; they were performative. Displaying such pieces signified wealth, refinement, and connection to wider social networks that valued the aesthetics of courtly life. Editor: So, it’s more than just a pretty dish? Curator: Exactly. Think about who owned this and where it was displayed. It probably sat at the center of a table in a grand dining room, demonstrating the owner’s sophistication and their access to global trade networks, given that ceramic production itself involved specific geographical patterns. The Baroque design suggests that a very powerful statement was trying to be made about the hosts and their role in the society of that time. The decoration featuring floral elements references botanical discoveries, which were another type of pursuit valued by elite society, while they amassed botanical collections. Why do you think that is? Editor: Probably the wealth allowed for explorations and hobbies? A form of distinction to keep them above the common folk? Curator: Precisely. This tureen embodies those subtle yet crucial distinctions. It's a stage for power plays, presented through art. Editor: I never thought about a tureen having so much to say about social structures! It gives a whole new meaning to decorative art. Curator: That’s the power of historical context. Now you see how objects like this serve a public role by defining certain historical standards.