Monteith 1695 - 1696

This silver Monteith bowl was crafted by Charles Overing, a London-based silversmith, around the turn of the 18th century. The Monteith is more than just a vessel; it's a reflection of the burgeoning social rituals and material culture of the English elite. The bowl's design, with its scalloped rim and decorative cartouches, speaks to the influence of continental baroque styles on English craftsmanship. But its function – to cool wine glasses – is distinctly English. The Monteith became fashionable at a time when new forms of sociability and domestic comfort were taking hold among the upper classes. The families who could afford to acquire these objects could participate in a culture of display, demonstrating their taste and refinement. Through studying probate inventories, trade records, and pattern books, we can further understand the place of objects like the Monteith in the homes and lives of 18th-century Britons. Art history here becomes a social history, uncovering the intricate connections between artistic production, material culture, and social identity.