Covered Entrée Dish 1809 - 1810

This covered entrée dish was created by Paul Storr in the late 18th to early 19th century. Its smooth, polished silver surface, combined with the precise fluted designs along its rims, create a play of light and shadow that draws the eye. Storr’s masterful manipulation of form elevates this functional object to a statement of opulence and status. The dish is structured around the interplay between the plain surfaces and detailed elements of the various crests. These heraldic symbols, combined with the horse figure at the apex of the lid, invite us to consider the semiotics of power and social identity embedded within the piece. The very design of the dish—a container meant to conceal and then reveal culinary delights— speaks to rituals of dining and display. The material and craftsmanship reflect a broader cultural context defined by aristocratic elegance, and the significance of such pieces within the theater of social life.