Pomade jar with cover (from toilet service) 1726 - 1727

Editor: Here we have a charming piece of decorative art: a silver pomade jar with a cover, dating from 1726 or 1727, crafted by François de Villers. The fine details and perfect symmetry give off a strong impression of opulence and order. What can you tell me about this little luxury? Curator: Luxury indeed! Look closely at the engraving. I imagine the artist painstakingly chasing those fine lines. Imagine this reflecting candlelight on a lady's dressing table...or a powdered gentleman applying the scented pomade. It's more than an object; it's a window into another world. Don't you find it suggests intimacy, the delicate rituals of getting ready? Editor: Yes, definitely. It’s beautiful and seems almost precious. Why use silver, of all materials? Curator: Silver wasn't just about the shimmer; it signaled status. But also, think of silver's inherent qualities. It is thought to possess purifying and protective abilities. Using silver elevated this everyday object into something almost…magical. What do you think about the floral and scrolling ornamentation? Editor: The swirling designs give the jar such fluidity. I’d almost expect it to start spinning like a top! It's amazing to think about the hands that shaped this object almost 300 years ago. Curator: Precisely! Objects like this, these small time capsules, are more than metal and ornamentation; they’re echoes of lives lived and whispers of stories yet untold. It encourages you to reimagine yourself within the world, doesn’t it? Editor: Absolutely, looking at this has changed my whole perspective. I can see how even the smallest, everyday object holds an incredible history. Curator: Mine, too! This object is very exciting because it is like meeting the artisan across the gulf of the ages.