Sugar caster
1739–40
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Height: 9 in. (22.9 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Silver
Culture
French, Montpellier
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Catherine D. Wentworth, 1948
Accession Number
48.187.74a, b
Art Historical Context
Step into the opulent world 18th-century French dining this exquisite *Sugar Caster* crafted by Pierre Belleville of Montpellier around 1739–40. Standing at a graceful 9 inches (22.9 cm) tall, this silver vessel was designed for sprinkling refined sugar over desserts and beverages—a luxury item reflecting the era's emphasis on refined table manners and hospitality among the elite. Belleville, a skilled silversmith from the vibrant regional center of Montpellier, exemplifies the high craftsmanship of French metalwork during the Louis XV period. Silver casters like this were hallmarks of decora...