Bowl with cover (Écuelle) and stand 1763 - 1764

Curator: Standing here, we're looking at an exquisite silver piece, a "Bowl with cover (Écuelle) and stand" created by Simon Bourguet around 1763-1764. What strikes you about it? Editor: It's incredibly opulent, almost intimidatingly so. The sheen of the silver, the ornate details… It feels like it belongs in a royal still life, poised to reflect candlelight at some grand feast. Does anyone actually use this, or is it purely ornamental? Curator: These écuelles were indeed functional, used for serving broth or other comforting foods to royalty and nobility. They became status symbols, particularly in 18th-century France. It reflected not just wealth but also refinement, suggesting an appreciation for art and craftsmanship alongside fine dining. Editor: Ah, so a really fancy soup bowl! I love how the little fruit or flower on top acts as a handle. Makes you wonder about the kinds of savory concoctions it held—what dishes it bore witness to, perhaps influencing history itself with a particularly well-timed delivery of restorative broth? Curator: Exactly! Bourguet, as a master silversmith, catered to the tastes of the French court. These weren't just practical objects; they were investments, heirlooms, tangible expressions of power and privilege during a very tumultuous period. Silverware had the potential to become coin when needed. Editor: It’s interesting how an object seemingly so delicate could also represent resilience in a way. Now I see it in a completely new light. Knowing that it may have funded political maneuvers adds another layer of interest beyond pure aesthetic value. I keep thinking I should have broth tonight. Curator: Precisely! These pieces allow us glimpses into past social and political realities through an intimate domestic lens. Editor: I’ll never look at silver the same way. It will always whisper of broths, and maybe the subtle sway of power.