Sauceboat 1773 - 1774

This sauceboat was made by Paul-David Bazille in the second half of the 18th century in France. Consider this object, its use is to serve sauce. Think about the French aristocracy at this time. Silver objects were not merely functional, they were potent symbols of wealth, status, and power. In a society rigidly stratified by class, something as simple as a sauceboat could underscore social distinctions and cultural capital. How one ate, what one ate with, spoke volumes. This piece exists during a period of immense social and political upheaval. The French Revolution, which began just a few years before Bazille's death, was a violent rejection of the very aristocracy that commissioned and consumed such luxurious items. While we may admire the craftsmanship and artistry of the sauceboat today, its existence is a reminder of the complex entanglements of art, power, and inequality.