Pomade jars 1745 - 1746

These are a pair of silver pomade jars crafted by Jacques-Malquis Le Quin, a Parisian silversmith who died in 1790. They offer a glimpse into the world of 18th-century French aristocracy. Pomade, a perfumed ointment, was essential for elaborate hairstyles, a status symbol that separated the elite from the laboring classes. Think about the powdered wigs and towering coiffures depicted in portraits from this era, and consider that these styles weren’t just fashion statements. They were declarations of identity and privilege in a society defined by rigid social hierarchies. These jars remind us that even the most intimate objects are embedded in broader cultural narratives. They reflect the values and aspirations of a society on the brink of revolution, a society where personal adornment served as both a form of self-expression and a marker of social distinction. They tell a story of luxury, identity, and the complex relationship between appearance and power.