Measure
ca. 1720–60
Medium
Pewter
Dimensions
Overall: 8 1/4 × 4 7/8 × 3 3/4 in. (21 × 12.4 × 9.5 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Pewter
Culture
French, Paris
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Stephen Benjamin, 1992
Accession Number
1992.244.6
Art Historical Context
Step into the world of 18th-century French craftsmanship with *Measure*, a finely wrought pewter object created by Parisian artist Auguste Loir around 1720–60. Measuring just 8¼ × 4⅞ × 3¾ inches, this piece from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative Arts exemplifies the era's blend of utility and artistry. Loir, a skilled pewterer working in Paris, crafted it during the opulent Rococo period, when everyday items like this were elevated through meticulous metalworking techniques. Pewter, an alloy primarily of tin with traces of antimony and copper, was prized for i...