Chocolate pot

Pierre Vallières

1781 · Silver; wood · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

This pot follows a basic design employed by French silversmiths for much of the eighteenth century, with the handle placed at right angles to the spout—perhaps to facilitate pouring by a servant. This standard design was often used for French silver coffeepots as well, but only chocolate pots were provided with an opening in the lid, often hidden by a sliding finial as here, to allow for the insertion of a stick to stir the contents.

Artist

Pierre Vallières

Date

1781

Medium

Silver; wood

Culture

French, Paris

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Rogers Fund, 1928