Table Centerpiece
c. 1750
Medium
Silver, silver gilt, mirror glass, and wood
Dimensions
15.6 × 137.8 × 66.7 cm (6 1/8 × 54 1/4 × 26 1/4 in.)
Classification
decorative object/ornament
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
157024
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This silver and glass plateau is a rare survival of the festive table decorations that were so popular in the 18th century. It formed the visual climax of a formal dinner’s final course; dessert. Designed in the Rococo style, the centerpiece has a border of asymmetrical scrolls, waves, and flower clusters, further enlivened by alternating reflective and matte surfaces. Decorative arrangements of sugar-paste or porcelain figures were placed on the mirrored surfaces of the plateau to entertain din...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...