Glass cooler c. 1819

This glass cooler was crafted by Jean-Baptiste-Claude Odiot. The grandeur of this piece is immediately striking. It’s a study in circular forms: the wide, shallow bowl, the supporting pedestal, and even the spherical objects held by the cherubic figures at either end. The surface is richly ornamented. Note the frieze of dense, stylized foliage encircling the bowl, topped with a rhythmic series of finials that recall classical motifs, echoed in the complex decorative patterns of the base. The symmetry lends a formal, almost theatrical quality, as if the piece were designed to be presented and admired from all angles. Consider how the interplay of light and shadow across the gilded surface would have enhanced the piece's opulence, each curve and flourish catching the light. The cooler transcends its function, embodying a set of aesthetic and cultural values about luxury, refinement, and the display of wealth.