Mustard pot
1717–22
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Height: 5 7/16 in. (13.8 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Silver
Culture
French, Paris
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Catherine D. Wentworth, 1948
Accession Number
48.187.90
Art Historical Context
This elegant mustard pot, crafted by Parisian silversmith Henry Ad between 1717 and 1722, exemplifies the refined metalwork of early 18th-century France. Standing at just over 5 inches tall, it was designed for the dining table of the French elite during the Regency period, a time of exuberant luxury following the death of Louis XIV. Adnet, a master goldsmith registered in Paris, bore the city's official mark, ensuring his work met the strict standards of the royal guild system. Silver was the medium of choice for such functional yet opulent objects, symbolizing wealth and sophistication. Mus...