Sugar bowl with cover and tray 1755 - 1765

Here is a sugar bowl with a cover and tray, made in the 1700s by Joseph-Virgile Vilhet, a Parisian silversmith. This piece offers a glimpse into the opulence enjoyed by the elite, a world built on the brutal realities of colonialism and slavery. Sugar, once a rare luxury, became a staple, fueling not just appetites but also the transatlantic slave trade. The very existence of this delicate silver bowl speaks volumes about the global power dynamics of the era. Consider the hands that harvested the sugarcane, the ships that transported it, and the families who gathered around tables like this one. It's easy to imagine the conversations that took place, perhaps oblivious to the human cost of their sweetness. This bowl isn't just an object; it's a silent witness to a complex and often painful history.