Dish with cover and liner 1775 - 1776

This dish with cover and liner was crafted in silver by Jacques-Nicolas Roettiers in the 18th century. Note the floral garlands adorning its sides, symbols deeply rooted in classical antiquity. Garlands, often made of laurel or ivy, were used in ancient Greece and Rome to crown victors and adorn sacred spaces. These motifs reappear throughout history, adorning Romanesque cathedrals and Renaissance paintings alike. But their meaning evolves. In this 18th-century context, the garlands speak to a renewed interest in classical aesthetics, but also to the transient nature of life, echoing the vanitas tradition. This sensibility is passed down to us, as well. Consider how the cyclical nature of these symbols engages us on a deep, subconscious level. We see reflections of ourselves in these images. This dish is not just a vessel; it is a carrier of cultural memory, where symbols from the past resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in our present.