Bowl with cover

Art Historical Context

This elegant Bowl with Cover crafted at the Chantilly porcelain factory in France around 1735–1740, exemplifies the refined luxury of 18th-century European decorative arts. Made from tin-glazed soft-paste porcelain and accented with gilt bronze mounts, the piece stands just over eight inches tall. Its delicate floral motifs reflect the period’s fascination with nature-inspired ornament, transforming a functional vessel into an object of beauty for the table or display cabinet. Chantilly’s output during this era contributed to France’s growing porcelain industry, which sought to rival imports from Asia while developing distinctly European styles. The use of soft-paste porcelain allowed for intricate shaping and vibrant surface decoration, while the gilt bronze elements added a touch of opulence suited to aristocratic households. Today housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s European Sculpture and Decorative Arts collection, the bowl offers visitors a glimpse into the technical artistry and cultural tastes of pre-Revolutionary France.