This is a sauceboat crafted in Vauxhall around 1768, likely made of porcelain. It's adorned with images of a figure framed by the letters 'C' and 'H' in a shield. The image is likely a portrait, once a symbol of identity and status. Consider the shield, an archetypal form that dates back to ancient warfare, and continues to evoke protection. Throughout history, families and nations have used shields, much like this one, to declare allegiances. The use of heraldry here on an everyday object speaks to the growing sense of personal and familial identity amongst the rising middle classes in the 18th century. We see this across centuries, from medieval tapestries to modern-day logos, where symbols evolve, yet the impulse to identify and belong remains. Even today, images are not merely seen; they are felt, resonating with a deep, often subconscious longing for order, connection and a sense of self. The cyclical nature of symbols, their recurrence and evolution, offers a profound insight into the human psyche.