Cleveland Museum of Art

Covered Bowl (Écuelle)

Mennecy Factory

Date

c. 1755

Medium

soft-paste porcelain with enamel decoration

Culture

France, Mennecy, 18th century

Department

Decorative Art and Design

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

Members of the 18th-century French social elite would participate in a lengthy ritual of washing and dressing called the toilette . Along with hair and make-up, this process, which bordered on performance, would also leave time to eat. Small, two handled bowls like this one were used for broths or soups consumed by an individual in the bedroom or boudoir. The name éceulle originates from the oak, or esculus , that was used to make early medieval bowls of a similar shape.

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