Getty Museum

Lidded Bowl (écuelle)

Date

1727–1728

Medium

Silver gilt

Culture

French

Department

Decorative Arts

Institution

Getty Museum

This small covered bowl, known as an *écuelle*, would have contained a serving of hot broth for a solitary diner or traveler. In the 1700s, it was difficult to serve food warm, since the kitchens were generally a long way from the dining room. The dish-cover or lid was a French innovation, invented to keep the contents hot while they were carried to the table or sat waiting for diners to arrive. It was not long before the decorative effect of the covers became as important as their function. Symmetrical arabesques and strapwork with profile medallions adorn the cast silver handles; these decorations emphasize, rather than obscure, the simple flat shape of the handles.

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