Fles van olie- en azijnstel bestaande uit twee flessen van glas en een peperbus in een houder 1783

This oil and vinegar set was made by Jan Hendrik Middelhuysen, a Dutch artist who lived between 1746 and 1822. While seemingly a mundane object, this glass carafe speaks volumes about the social history of food and dining. The rising popularity of specialized tableware like this reflected the growing sophistication of culinary practices in the Netherlands and throughout Europe. It shows how the dining table became a stage for displays of wealth and taste. Consider the burgeoning middle class in the Netherlands during this period. They were eager to emulate the aristocracy. The availability and desire for luxury items like this carafe were indicative of a society undergoing significant economic and social change. Delving into historical cookbooks, etiquette manuals, and trade records, we can uncover a wealth of information about the meanings and uses of objects like this. Appreciating this history allows us to see this object not merely as a container for oil and vinegar, but as a mirror reflecting the social and cultural values of its time.