Basin 1677 - 1678

Curator: Well, hello there. What catches your eye about this piece? Editor: The glint of it! Like a miniature silver skating rink. It seems so substantial, but delicate at the same time. What’s its story? Curator: We're looking at a Baroque silver basin created between 1677 and 1678, now held here at The Art Institute of Chicago. Editor: Baroque, huh? It feels a bit understated for that era. I was expecting, like, a cherub convention erupting from it. Curator: The Baroque was indeed ornate, but even within that period, different artists and patrons embraced varying levels of complexity. Silverware in particular often symbolized status. Its presence was meant to broadcast affluence, which brings attention and attracts power. Editor: So, it's a power bowl? Intriguing! It definitely feels weighty, but balanced by those cute little spherical feet. They make it look almost buoyant, as if it could float away with your secrets. And I'm seeing a gentle hammer pattern on the surface – were those intentional? Curator: Precisely! Hammered silver became incredibly fashionable because those intentional marks evoked human craft rather than machine production. You see a sort of “handmade” ethos developing even then, playing against courtly opulence by intimating the human involvement and skill. Editor: That human touch…makes it feel almost personal, even though it’s something that probably sat on a very important table. It almost feels like it anticipates minimalist tastes, which isn’t where I’d expect to arrive when gazing at Baroque metalwork. Curator: Cultural tastes often evolve as a conversation. Reflecting on it all, this object serves as a symbol of power, wealth, and a nascent appreciation for artisanal creation, encapsulating the late 17th century in lustrous metal. Editor: Well said. It certainly gives a lot to think about over our next bowl of soup, doesn’t it? Or maybe, a chilled martini.