Ewer 1875

This silver ewer was made by Ferdinand Barbedienne, a 19th-century French metalworker. The imagery of grape vines and classical figures evoke a specific kind of elite taste in France during that period. The question of taste is always a social one. Barbedienne rose to prominence during a period of industrialization in France. His workshop produced luxury goods such as this ewer. Made using both handcraft and industrial techniques, these objects appealed to the tastes of the rising bourgeois class. They had the wealth to purchase luxury items, but often lacked the aristocratic lineage of previous elites. Note the classical imagery. By referencing historical styles, new money could imitate the cultural capital of the old aristocracy. Objects like this are a reminder that taste is never natural or neutral. Primary sources, such as design publications and company records, can help us better understand the social forces that shaped artistic production in 19th-century France.