Covered Tureen on Stand (Pot-à-oille)

Juste-Aurèle Meissonnier transformed the traditional covered tureen into an imaginative shell form. The vegetables and animals on the cover refer to the stew’s ingredients, or oille, served from this vessel. Weighing nearly 44 pounds (20 kilograms), the tureen presents a dazzling display of wealth. It was commissioned by the English Duke of Kingston, as one of a pair. The tureens are among the most celebrated surviving examples of 1700s French silver, representing the defining objects of the Rococo—a style characterized by asymmetrical, curving forms, and motifs inspired by nature.

Meissonnier collaborated with two master silversmiths on this tureen but asserted his authorship through a prominent inscription on the stand, reading: “Made by J. A. Meissonnier, Architect.” Identifying himself as an architect rather than a goldsmith reflects his ambition to elevate his status beyond his artisanal background.