Dish (one of a pair) 1763 - 1764

Curator: So elegant! It is the kind of simple yet sensual piece that hints at something truly rich. Editor: Yes, well said. Let's dig a bit deeper. This exquisite object before us, created by Jean-Louis Morel, dates from 1763 to 1764. We know it as simply "Dish (one of a pair)." The master craftsman formed it of silver and this piece, along with its partner, resides here at the Met. Curator: I'm immediately drawn to the scalloped edges, they seem to echo the movement and energy that define Rococo style, which, if I remember well, stood in contrast to its stricter predecessors. What’s compelling is how the material, the sheen of silver, works as both mirror and reflector—literally and metaphorically. Do you see any symbolic dimension? Editor: Beyond reflecting societal glamour and elegance, perhaps its round form represents wholeness, cycles, or communal gatherings. The way light dances across its surface is just incredible; each slight movement seems to animate it. Do you feel it would have served some utilitarian purpose beyond the decorative? Curator: Considering its high-end materials and placement in a museum now, I would guess display trumps practicality! But maybe the owners used it to amplify their social standing. Eating vessels held great ritual importance, remember? Even the Bible has passages describing table placements according to importance or hierarchy. Editor: Quite possibly. A vessel holds content, meaning it can suggest something of what it used to hold or who it once belonged to. And the paired creation implies the idea of gathering. It certainly evokes echoes of opulent dinners. This silver "Dish" takes on different meanings from the era when it was crafted to now as museum artifact, speaking both to function and the aesthetics of lavish abundance. Curator: I can't help thinking what that original owner might think if they could see it here. A feast for the eyes, divorced from the table. Editor: Indeed. A small luxury made enduring.