Deksel van zilver c. 1771 - 1772

This silver lid was crafted by Jacques-Nicolas Roettiers, a master silversmith working in the late 18th century. Roettiers came from a family dynasty of goldsmiths, and he became the official goldsmith to King Louis XV. Reflect on how the opulence of this silver lid speaks to the hierarchies of the French court. Silverware like this would have been a marker of status, signifying the wealth and power of the aristocracy during a period defined by stark social inequalities. Consider, too, how the labor required to produce such an object often went unseen. It was a time of growing social unrest, where the lives of the working class were vastly different from those who commissioned and used such luxurious items. The lid, with its intricate detailing, invites us to think about the hands that shaped it and the society that valued it.