Entree Dish 1837 - 1841

Editor: We’re looking at an “Entree Dish,” made between 1837 and 1841 by Taylor and Lawrie. It’s crafted from silver, a strikingly gleaming example of decorative art currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Its polished surface and ornate details make it appear quite grand, almost ceremonial. What speaks to you when you look at it? Curator: Beyond its function as tableware, this object is a fascinating study in the language of status and aspiration. Look at the handles, the feet, the lid’s handle: everywhere, elaborate foliate motifs echo classical forms. What emotional weight do you think such symbols carried in the 19th century? Editor: A desire for refinement and perhaps to create a sense of timeless elegance. The classical motifs reference a sense of permanence and cultivated taste, don’t they? Curator: Exactly! The choice of silver, the craftsmanship, and the repeated classical allusions signal not just wealth, but an understanding of history and an adherence to certain values. Think about the families who used this piece. What stories were they trying to tell? And how did those symbols function within the rituals of dining? Editor: They were saying, "We are cultivated. We are timeless.” It feels like they’re constructing and broadcasting a carefully curated self-image through objects. Curator: Precisely! And this self-image would have been further reinforced through social interactions and performances, which are deeply entwined with this visual culture. What lasting power do you think objects like this retain today? Editor: They still speak of ambition, legacy, and perhaps a hint of yearning for a perceived "golden age." It’s amazing how much meaning can be embedded in something we might now overlook as a purely functional object. Curator: Indeed. Reflecting on how objects are imbued with this cultural language gives us unique access into the mindset of the era.