Tazza 1697 - 1698

Editor: This is a “Tazza,” crafted from silver around 1697 or 1698. I find it fascinating, it’s got such a formal shape, but feels very simple at the same time. What stands out to you? Curator: It’s the tension, isn't it? This gleaming baroque-era objet is meant for display, pure theater, but now, centuries later, it holds ghosts, secrets. Like holding the last whisper of a forgotten feast. What stories could this old silver server tell, I wonder? Editor: It seems almost too plain for "theater," as you say. Curator: Ah, but the Baroque wasn't *all* fuss and frills. Think of it as contained drama. This tazza boasts the essential hallmarks, a display of wealth distilled into elegance. See the intricate rope pattern around the edge? The subtle crest? They hint at power, control. Someone *wanted* to project significance with this, to imply refinement. Do you notice any of those Baroque conventions? Editor: I do, now that you point them out. The circular designs seem classical. It almost seems ready to be put on stage, which really brings the “theater” of the time alive. Curator: Exactly! It embodies the aspirations of the age, while time’s slow brush has granted it a melancholy all its own. What do you feel knowing this wasn't made to be displayed in a museum? Editor: That gives me pause. Looking at it now, thinking about its initial purpose versus where it ended up, is inspiring. Curator: To me too. I'll not look at Baroque silverware the same.