Silver Tureen (a), lid (b) [pair with 1975.1.2560a-c] 1749

Etienne-Jacques Marcq crafted this silver tureen, a vessel adorned with symbols that speak volumes of its time. Note the rose atop the lid, a symbol of love and beauty since antiquity, juxtaposed with the crayfish, a creature of the waters, often associated with emotions and the subconscious. These motifs, carefully chosen, are not isolated. We see the rose echoed in countless Renaissance paintings as an attribute of Venus, goddess of love, while crustaceans appear in Dutch still lifes, symbols of earthly delights. Consider how the rose has shifted from a sacred emblem to a secular decoration, reflecting evolving cultural values and the subtle dance between the sacred and profane. The crayfish, too, moves from being a mere food item to a complex symbol, evoking deep, often unacknowledged, emotional states. Thus, these symbols engage us on a subconscious level, tapping into the cultural memory we all share. They are not static, but cyclical, resurfacing throughout history with new shades of meaning, their essence forever preserved, yet perpetually transformed.