Snuffers tray with snuffers 1734

This is a silver snuffers tray with snuffers, made by Paul de Lamerie. It is adorned with motifs like shells and floral patterns, commonly associated with elegance and luxury during the 18th century. The acanthus leaves and shell patterns recall classical antiquity, symbols frequently revived during the Renaissance to signal a return to the perceived cultural heights of ancient Greece and Rome. This visual language evokes a sense of prestige. Note how these motifs are not merely decorative; they act as carriers of cultural memory. Consider the shell, for instance. It appears in Botticelli’s "Birth of Venus," symbolizing fertility and divine love. Here, on a humble snuffers tray, the shell echoes those grander themes, scaled down to domestic intimacy. This continuous return and adaptation of classical motifs illustrate the Nachleben, the afterlife of images. The very act of snuff-taking becomes elevated, imbued with echoes of mythological grandeur. In our collective psyche, these recurring symbols tap into primal human experiences, engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level with enduring emotional and cultural power.