Pair of scallop-shell dishes 1771 - 1773

Curator: Well, here we have a pair of scallop-shell dishes crafted from silver, dating back to 1771-1773, made by Jacques-Nicolas Roettiers. You can find them at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. What strikes you first about them? Editor: The interplay of light and shadow! The way the light glints off the ridges and valleys creates a stunning visual rhythm. They seem so... tactile. Curator: Absolutely. Roettiers was a master of Rococo, and these pieces are quintessential examples of that style’s fondness for naturalistic forms and ornamental detail. Think about the social context; these weren’t just dishes. They were signifiers of wealth, of taste, and of belonging to a certain elite class during a time of growing social unrest. Editor: But beyond the societal implications, look at how meticulously each detail has been rendered. Notice the elegant handle and the fine, radial lines that emulate a natural shell. There's a formal tension there, between the organic inspiration and the precision of the craftsmanship. Curator: Indeed. And we must not ignore the use of silver itself. What statement did it make in contrast to simpler materials such as clay or wood, in an era defined by enormous class disparity? Were these merely aesthetic objects, or a quiet pronouncement of power? And furthermore, what message does it send now as it sits displayed within a museum institution? Editor: The silver also speaks to longevity, a kind of material immortality the commissioners hoped for. Yet, each piece is delicately asymmetrical. If these pieces had been commissioned today, this nuance may suggest a disruption to established, traditional forms of status. Curator: Exactly. Roettiers and his clientele navigated a complex dance of tradition, aspiration, and the looming threat of revolution. Reflecting on the inherent contradictions within Roettiers' refined silverwork reminds us that art always speaks within a given period’s tensions. Editor: A potent intersection of form and socio-historical significance, leaving you with lingering impressions of class, wealth, power, materiality and decay.