Salt and pepper boxes 1770 - 1771

These salt and pepper boxes were created by Edme-Pierre Balzac. The boxes present a striking combination of delicate ornamentation and structural form. The body of each box is composed of an ornate filigree of swirling silver, creating a sense of lightness and almost lace-like intricacy. This openwork design contrasts with the solid, geometric shapes of the bases and the clear glass interiors, creating a play between opacity and transparency, solidity and void. The use of silver as a medium invites a semiotic reading, reflecting not only status but also the cultural values associated with refinement and luxury. The intricate designs, while decorative, also reveal an underlying order, a structured approach to embellishment that echoes broader artistic and philosophical concerns of the period. The boxes are elevated from mere functional objects to symbols of cultural and aesthetic ideals, suggesting a society deeply invested in the visual language of wealth and taste.