Sauce bowl with dish with the coat of arms of Hendrik Peter Godfried Quack and Isabella Gertraud von Carnap c. 1790 - 1800

Editor: Here we have a sauce bowl with a dish dating from around 1790 to 1800, adorned with the coat of arms of Hendrik Peter Godfried Quack and Isabella Gertraud von Carnap. It’s earthenware. It strikes me as rather elegant and dainty. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It's indeed more than just a decorative object. Consider the socio-economic context: this rococo-style sauce bowl speaks to the identity of its owners. Coats of arms were a public display of lineage and status, asserting power during a period of significant social upheaval and revolution. How does that interplay between domesticity and power resonate with you? Editor: So, it’s less about simply serving sauce and more about making a statement? A subtle flex, perhaps? Curator: Precisely. These weren’t simply functional items but performative ones. They reinforce class hierarchies through daily rituals. Also, the choice of earthenware matters. It indicates a degree of wealth, being more precious than other materials. The gold leaf decoration, of course, underscores this even further. Do you think such displays of opulence were ever questioned in that era? Editor: Well, considering the French Revolution happened around the same time, I would imagine this level of wealth would certainly turn some heads. It is a little on the nose. Curator: Absolutely! This object becomes a silent participant in a broader political narrative, reflecting anxieties about wealth distribution, power, and visibility during times of radical change. Editor: I see it in a new light now. The bowl transforms into a symbol of privilege at a time when privilege was under scrutiny. Thank you, this was really illuminating! Curator: My pleasure! Considering art within a historical and social framework encourages us to examine our assumptions.