Enfilade

Paul Crespin, Epergne, 1742–43, sterling silver c
(Museum of Fine Arts, Houston)

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From the MFAH:

À la Mode: Fashioning European Silver, 1680–1825
Rienzi, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 10 October 2015 — 7 February 2016

For centuries, silver was one of the most popular expressions of style and taste, with its universal appeal and powerful hold on the imagination making it the necessary luxury. Silver was designed for almost every occasion, from everyday drinking and dining to commemorating christenings and weddings.

À la Mode draws from the rich holdings of the MFAH, Rienzi, and two private collections to explore the social life of silver. The exhibition shows how prevailing attitudes and changes in fashion determined the form and function of objects, and how people thought about and lived with silver.