Basin (Réchaud)
French, Saint-Porchaire or Paris
The shape suggests a chafing dish (réchaud in French). Food was kept warm in a separate receptacle placed atop the basin, which would have been filled with water heated by a brazier stored in the pedestal. However, the fragility of the Museum’s basin indicates that it served a purely decorative purpose. The purple and green pillars and the large-scale floral motifs on a brown ground are unique to this piece.
This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.