Hot water urn (part of a service) 1809 - 1819

This hot water urn, part of a larger service, was made by Marc Jacquart in the 18th century. It's made of silver, a precious material often associated with luxury and status, and was crafted using techniques like hammering, chasing, and casting. The urn's opulent design, with its swan handles, classical figures, and intricate detailing, reflects the refined tastes of the wealthy elite. Silver is a relatively soft material, meaning that the incredible detail you see here could only have been achieved through skillful manipulation. The making of an object like this would have been labor-intensive, involving multiple artisans with specialized skills. Consider the social context: this urn speaks to the vast disparities in wealth and power during the period, where the elite could commission such extravagant objects while many others struggled to survive. Appreciating the material and making of this urn allows us to understand its connection to social issues of labor, class, and consumption.