Dish (one of a pair) 1726 - 1728

This silver dish was created by Jean-Baptiste I Buchet sometime in the 18th century, and is now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection. At first glance, the dish captivates with its elegant form and shimmering surface. Its octagonal shape, framed by a beaded edge, contains a subtly concave center, textured by radiating flutes. The delicate, etched heraldic crest at the center adds a layer of intricacy, creating a focal point that draws the eye inward. Here, the structure of the dish serves not only a functional purpose, but also as a semiotic carrier of cultural codes. The octagonal form, with its suggestion of containment, contrasts with the radiating lines which suggest expansion, subtly destabilizing the static nature of the object. The heraldic crest, a symbol of identity and lineage, is rendered in delicate lines, challenging fixed notions of power and representation through its refined execution. Ultimately, this dish functions beyond its material composition, engaging with philosophical ideas about space, perception, and the interplay between form and meaning. The dish invites us to reconsider our understanding of art as a site of ongoing interpretation.